Arkansas Legislative Redistricting Public Hearings Begin This Week

When asked about legislative redistricting, Democrat Governor Mike Beebe told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “I worry about winning.” The Governor needs to worry less about “winning,” and more about conducting a fair and legal process. The people of Arkansas cannot afford another Democrat-led, partisan redistricting proposal, like the “Fayetteville Finger!” [Katherine Vasilos, RPA]

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Legislative Redistricting public hearings by the Arkansas Board of Apportionment are beginning this week, with the first meeting on May 24 in Jonesboro. This Board is responsible and has total authority for redrawing the State’s 135 House and Senate districts as required by the Arkansas Constitution following the nation’s decennial census. The Board has the power to redraw the State’s legislative districts to tilt the balance of power in favor of one political party for the next decade. Fellow conservatives may wish to attend these meetings to help advocate an open, fair and transparent legislative redistricting process!

The board is has only three-members: two Democrats Gov. Mike Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and one Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin. With the vote being two to one with regard to political philosophy, public attendance and input may be the only means to sway some of the already indicated intent by the controlling party to change the districts so as to eliminate "certain" republican state senators and maybe even some House members. Comments from various sources indicate that state senators like Sen. Missy Thomas Irvin, Senate District 10, are being targeted for standing against the Governor's unwillingness to reduce the spending and his effort for Arkansas to be the first to implement ObamaCare. Note, normally, only 1/3 of the Senate seats are voted on every two years. However, after redistricting is completed, ALL Senate seats as well has House Legislative seats are up for election in Nov 2012.

While members of the Board are technically exempt from releasing their proposed redistricting maps under a provision in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), only Secretary of State Mark Martin has released maps to the public. Gov. Mike Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel have refused (thus far) to voluntarily make their proposed maps available to the public.

In April, the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA) called on the three members of the Board of Apportionment to follow certain guidelines when conducting the reapportionment process. The RPA identified that it was prepared to take legal action if the following guidelines were not met:

• Districts should respect the concept of “one man, one vote,” with a low variance of one percent.
• Geographical boundaries should make sense and avoid gerrymanders like the “Fayetteville Finger.”
• The process should be conducted in a fair, non-partisan manner.
• The process should be open and transparent for all Arkansans.

The Board has set August 1, 2011 as it target date to finalize the redrawn district lines for each of the State’s House and Senate seats.

Every Arkansas citizen is welcome to attend one of these public hearings to ask questions of the Board, to demand the public release of proposed maps and to insist new districts not be gerrymandered to favor one political party over another.

For additional information about the Arkansas legislative redistricting process, the scheduled meeting places, and population data for your county, visit Here:

• May 24: Jonesboro Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., ASU Student Union Auditorium
• May 31: Hope Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., Klipsch Auditorium
• June 7: Monticello Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., University of Arkansas at Monticello Fine Arts Center
• June 14: Fayetteville Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., TBA
• June 21: Little Rock Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., TBA
• June 28: Helena Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., TBA
• July 6: Ft. Smith Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m., TBA

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