LITTLE ROCK — Pulaski County residents have until noon Tuesday to comment on eight proposals for redrawn justice of the peace districts that are scheduled for an Election Commission vote Wednesday.
In response to population shifts revealed in the 2010 Census, the boundaries are being redrawn to more evenly balance the number of constituents in each ward.
Each of the four early proposals would see at least one justice of the peace moved from his district and forced to face a fellow incumbent during re-election.
The four most recent proposals, however, would see no justice of the peace removed from his district.
Similar to Little Rock, which saw neighborhoods in its eastern sector lose about 4,000 residents while the city’s west grew by 10,000 people, the county’s westernmost district, District 1, has grown from about 25,000 to nearly 35,000. Its easternmost, District 11, went from about 25,000 to 19,800.
During the Election Commission meeting Wednesday, the board will also vote to adopt the redrawn city wards proposal submitted by Little Rock.
Melinda Allen, director of elections, said the county needed to wait for the city wards proposal so those boundaries could be considered and used as references for redrawn county Quorum Court districts.
State law mandates equal populations within districts, but allows for a 5 percent variance. That means that when redrawn, the county districts cannot exceed 26,792 constituents each or fall below 24,241, according to the commission. The average for the 15 districts is 25,517.
On either proposal, a redrawn District 1 would be culled to about 25,795 constituents, while District 11 would increase to about 24,759.
Allen said the maps were prepared by Metroplan, the regional planning agency for central Arkansas. She said the agency initially didn’t consider where the justices of the peace live so the first four maps would see some moved into neighboring districts.
Plan 1 would move Wilandra Dean from District 5 to District 6, where she’d face Donna Massey. Both are Democrats.
Plan 2 would move Paul Elliott from District 14 into District 13, where Phil Stowers is the incumbent. Both are Republicans.
Plan 3 would move Republican Doug Reed from District 1 to District 2, where Democrat Dawne Vandiver is the incumbent.
Plan 4 would unseat Dean and Stowers, moving Dean to District 6 but shifting Stowers to District 14.
The remaining four proposals include minor boundary changes that would keep the Quorum Court members in their existing districts.
Stowers said Friday that he wasn’t particularly concerned that any of the justices of the peace would be unseated.
“I don’t think it will be an issue. My understanding is that their intention is to look at approving one of the new maps that would not displace any of the incumbents,” he said.
Stowers said if the three election commissioners chose a map that forces incumbents to face each other for re-election, he’s fine with that, too.
“They have a job to do and that is to redraw the districts in a manner that meets the objective criteria in regard to even splits of population, keeping communities together or whatever,” he said. “My thought was if they are able to do that without necessarily drawing people out of their districts, that would be the way to go. If that’s not possible, then I would respect the process. Whatever will be will be.”
Similarly, Elliott said, he hopes the commission will pick one of the four options that do not unseat any incumbents.
“I don’t want to run against Phil, so that would be better for each of us,” he said.
Kent Walker, chairman of the Election Commission, said that as far as he knows, the commission will consider all eight proposals Wednesday.
“I don’t have a preference right now,” he said Friday afternoon. “I’m going to wait to see what comments come in then discuss them with those most intricately involved. At the end of the day, we have to do what’s equitable for everybody.”
The commission will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Pulaski County Quorum Court room at 201 S. Broadway.
All proposed maps are available on the commission website votepulaski.net. Public comments may be submitted through the website, by faxing (501) 340-6024 or in person at 501 West Markham St., Suite A.
Arkansas, Pages 7 on 10/31/2011