Senate reactivates redistricting committee

By Mark Binker

Posted: February 21

Raleigh, N.C. — The state Senate has revived its Redistricting Committee, saying that lawmakers may need to look at some local issues this session.

"We're going to take a hard look at judicial districts," said Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson.

Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, will chair the committee.

Senators had planned to eliminate some special Superior Court judges earlier this year. Those are appointed judges used to help courts deal with particularly heavy workloads, but they are sometimes viewed as sinecure seats governors can give to political allies.

"If we have a district that is under-served now, we might put an additional judge in it," Apodaca said.

During the 2011-12 session, the Redistricting Committee dealt with redrawing congressional districts, as well as state House and Senate districts. Apodaca said he didn't anticipate any of those coming back for re-evaluation.

"There are some local issues coming down the pike, we hear," he said, specifically referencing county commissioner districts.

3 Comments

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Ah, yes. More gerrymandering coming soon - and another power grab.

Republicans would rather pick their voters (and pack Democrats into as few districts as possible) than risk letting voters choose.

hp277
February 21, 2013 4:00 p.m.

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Evidently Governor P has decided that too many old people and folks of color actually were able to vote in 2012 despite their last gerrymandering attempt. This is just to secure those final loose ends...

rushbot
February 22, 2013 10:02 a.m.

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Probably as simple as they say it is. They want to add some judges, so they have to have Districts for them to serve/run in. Therefore a committee has to make the districts moving some districts around and meeting VRA requirements.

wa4mjf
February 22, 2013 3:21 p.m.

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