News
Justice Department approves Orange redistricting plan
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved the city of Orange’s proposal to change how voters there choose elected officials.
“This signifies a huge achievement in civil rights and voting rights in the city of Orange,” said Alan Bojorquez, the redistricting attorney who helped the city shape its plan.
Bojorquez learned of the Justice Department’s decision on Friday.
The proposed change expands Orange’s city council by two members to six and a mayor.
Four of the seats will belong to single-member districts with two chosen as citywide “at-large” positions, among other changes.
The change will be in place for the May 14 elections, which was the city’s goal when the redistricting process began in December.
NEW DAY RISING: Changing Demographics and Changing Politics and Policy in Texas
The coming Hispanic majority will impact the state we love in ways we can only begin to imagine. Public education, higher education, energy, health care, workforce development and criminal justice are just a few of the policy areas certain to be affected by roiling, rapid changes in the state’s population — to say nothing of the possible transformation of the political landscape.
Jeremy McMahen of Doucet & Associates, Inc., and consultant to Redistricting Solutions, recently attended a daylong symposium to explore both the challenges and the opportunities presented by demographic inevitability. Speakers included Steve Murdock, former state demographer and former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, now the Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Professor of Sociology at Rice University; Henry Cisneros, who was elected as the first Hispanic mayor of a major American city 30 years ago and is now the executive chairman of CityView, a real estate firm; and four state representatives who are themselves products of the new Texas: Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock; Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen; Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg; and Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio.
Census Bureau Releases Initial 2010 Census Population Counts
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/
On September 21, 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau released the total population counts for the nation and each state. Additionally, apportionment data showing which states gained and which states lost seats in Congress was released. The link above goes to an interactive map that shows the results. Specific demographic data necessary to begin the redistricting process will be released to the states on a rolling basis beginning in February and wrapping up by March 31, 2011.
IFRAMES Not Supported
