Mass. Lawmaker Defends Redistricting Plan

By STEVE LeBLANC
Associated Press Writer
February 26, 2004

BOSTON - A state lawmaker Thursday defended a redistricting plan rejected by a federal appeals court, denying legislative leaders tried to weaken the clout of black voters by packing them into as few districts as possible.

Speaker Thomas Finneran also defended the protection of incumbents as one of several factors lawmakers are entitled to use when drawing new electoral maps. He said he was surprised by the tone of the ruling, which was harshly critical of House leaders.

"I think the language is completely out of bounds for a variety or reasons," Finneran told The Associated Press. "The decision embraced an academic theory of voting that history refutes."

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ordered lawmakers to redraw 17 Boston districts, saying Democratic House leaders sacrificed "racial fairness to the voters on the altar of incumbency protection." The court gave lawmakers six weeks to submit a redrawn map.

Minority activists who challenged the map said the speaker misunderstood the ruling.

"He doesn't get that it's really a victory for voters," Atiya Dangleman, program director of Boston VOTE. "The plaintiffs are representing voters who have had their rights denied by an unfair plan. I don't think the language of the courts was in any way overly rough or out of bounds, given the facts."

Finneran said the court underestimated the ability of Boston voters to look past race when choosing candidates. Finneran, who is white, has represented a majority black district for 25 years. State Rep. Byron Rushing, who is black, represents a district that is predominantly white.

"There's no brush out there that says black people vote this way and white people vote that way," he said.

Considering the election needs of incumbents, among other factors, is not only legitimate but has been recognized by other courts, the speaker said.

"Every court decision that's ever come down under the National Voting Rights Act acknowledges that incumbency is a legitimate interest," he said. "I don't think the court is suggesting that incumbency is a non-issue. If they are, they are writing new law."