Proposed House 2011 redistricting of Clarke County.
The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a plan on March 4, 2011, to reapportion Clarke County. This suggested plan will divide and fragment Clarke County into five parts such that the people of Clarke County will have no effective representation in the Mississippi House of Representatives. This is a terrible plan and everyone is urged to contact the governor and the Senate to urge that this plan be killed!
The above map shows how Clarke County will be divided and its representation fragmented into five parts that are very confusing to voters. This is part of the plan to reapportion the House of Representatives proposed by the Mississippi House of Representatives in a Joint Resolution (J.R. 1) passed on March 4, 2011. Note that Clarke County is fragmented into five parts or districts 78, 80, 81, 86 and 87. It is as if an artificial racial fault line has been created which runs through the county with its epicenter in Quitman, such that there is no way for Quitman or Clarke County to have any unity of voters or representation; hence, the people of Clarke County and Quitman are not properly represented and there is no way for the people of Clarke County to exercise any power and control over their shared concerns.
When redistricting creates an artificial situation where the people of a county do not have a way to be represented, this creates, rather than solves, a problem. The suggested redistricting map of the House as it relates to Clarke County and Quitman is therefore in conflict with the very idea of people having fair and equitable representation and should NOT be accepted.
This is a very unfortunate situation and quite distressing. One immediate consequence is that the City of Corinth adopted a resolution against this proposed reapportionment. A suggested solution would be for the citizens of Clarke County to adopt a similar resolution, to put racial division and conflicts of the past behind them, and resolve to unite and move forward to resolve their shared problems. Certainly problems associated with unemployment and education can be solved best if there is a singular representative for the area, and people work together rather than apart, not focusing upon artificial lines which divide them into black or white or by race or religion. By working together as one united group of citizens who can meet together with their representative to discuss issues, who work together with their representative to find solutions for common problems, and who vote for a common representatives who is aware of shared concerns, a county and city can best move forward and achieve the greatest progress most economically over time..
Fragmenting a people's representation is NOT the best way to solve problems. The best way to solve problems is for people of the county and cities to come together with a common representative and work toward identifying problems and developing plans to solve those common problems.
Mayor of Quitman, Eddie Fulton, has said, "The time has come to contact Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and request that the Joint Resolution 1 be killed. I would appreciate your contacting his Office at 601-359-3200 and leave the message that this Redistricting Resolution crafted by the House Democrats be killed." You may also send a message to Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant via his campaign site.
Terry's Letter to Lt. Gov. Phil BryantDear Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, Please take whatever action you can to kill Joint Resolution 1 which was passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives. This is a very bad resolution as it fragments voter representation in many parts of the state into confusing, wide ranging, jigsaw puzzle fragments that make no sense whatsoever. Such fragmentation of voter districts makes it impossible for some areas, like Clarke County and Quitman, where I live, to be fairly represented by someone who lives in our community. This division is absolutely insane and demonstrates that whoever is drawing these crazy lines knows nothing whatsoever about how to properly group a community or region so that the people may be represented by someone who lives in their area, can meet with them regularly, is aware of area problems and can work with the people to find and implement solutions efficiently and economically. Those who are drawing these jigsaw puzzle lines need to stop seeing people as black and white, red and yellow, and realize that people all are the same, that we are all Americans, that it does not matter what color, race, religion, national or ethnic origin the people are, that if they have a representative they can meet with who lives among them, then they can work together to solve their shared problems. But when you make artificial lines which fragment and divide a region you create a situation where no one is fairly represented by a member of their community. The House Joint Resolution 1 should therefore be killed and cremated and a sane and sensible redistricting made based upon existing counties so that everyone will be represented by someone who lives in their respective counties who they know. Please reply and let me know what your position is and what action you are taking in this regard. Do NOT expect my support for any future campaigns unless you first declare that you are opposed to the House Joint Resolution 1. Thank you for your consideration.
In kind regards, |
I made a very interesting observation when viewing the above proposed map of Clarke County and how it has been fragmented. There are five arms or puzzle-like fingers of five districts which dip into Clarke County. These ameboid arms or fingers extend so far out of and beyond Clarke County and the City of Quitman that they no longer represent the area. This is so clear and evident that anyone can see it is illogical to divide a people in this manner, as then the people of the County and respective Cities cannot come together to work to solve their shared problems. The artificial divisions being made make it more difficult for people to come together to and work with their representatives to solve their common problems. A better solution might be to create one district for all of Clarke County such that then the people could know who represents them and they could work with that person. At the very most there should be no more than two representatives for Clarke County, perhaps one for the east and west or north and south regions of the county; but not FIVE representatives for a county!
I would like to know what others think about this issue. Please sent your letters to The Quitman Villager
Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton provided this update on 8 March, 2011, via email:
Terry,
You have, in a abbreviated fashion, stated facts that I wish everyone would review. As the County Seat of a small County this plan completely disregards our voice. The good news is Senator Terry Burton and Lt. Governor may kill this resolution. That would probably mean we would have elections under the current Districts, but have to vote again next year in the new configuration. I was interviewed by WTOK this morning and they will be interviewing Representative Greg Snowden later today. Our story will get out, and hopefully your Web Site and the coverage will make the difference we need.
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