NM will have to wait for 2010 Census results

Steve Ramirez
Las Cruces Sun-News (NM)
February 2, 2011

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico is not among the first four states whose 2010 U.S. Census results will be released by the end of the week.

Census officials were not about to go out on a limb Monday to say just when the state's census data will be made available, but results for all states must be released by April 1.

"We're not certain in what order they will be released," said Cathy McCully, chief of the U.S. Census Bureau's Redistricting Office, during a Monday telephone conference call. "There's some certainty about the tentative schedule's release, but there's more uncertainty about it."

What is known is that federal law requires that all states be provided census data no later than April 1. The Census Bureau has established its tentative schedule to release data, but states that have a more urgent need for the data than others will be given priority for release.

With that, Stacy Vidal, Census Bureau spokeswoman, said Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia will be the four states that get their census information first, and that is expected to be released Friday.

McCully said every state's geographic products and redistricting data are first delivered to the state's elected leadership, such as the governor and majority and minority leaders in the state legislative body.

"Upon confirmation of delivery to the state leadership, we will release a news release with five custom tables of data," McCully said. "Within 24 hours, the full set of five detailed tables will be available to the public online at http://factfinder2.

census.gov. This is a similar practice the Census Bureau has used for years."

States where there are changes in the number of congressional seats will be the first to receive the latest census data. There will be no changes to the number of elected congressional delegates from New Mexico, so it's anticipated the state could be among those that don't receive its census data until sometime in mid to late March.

"We're not a big area, in terms of population or in getting extra seats in Congress," said Raymond Reza, a Las Cruces accountant.

"From what I remember, New Mexico's always been one of the latter states to get its census results; something like in the last quarter, or so. We've grown, and there's been plenty of changes, just not enough to justify that we get ours sooner than others."

But the census data is important to city officials, who have already started initial efforts to redraw the city's six City Council districts. The Las Cruces City Charter requires that all council districts be of equal population, but with growth, especially on the city's East Mesa, council districts Five and Six are notably larger than the other four.

"Some of those changes could affect who decides to run for City Council and who doesn't," said Dorothea Porter, a retired teacher, who has lived in Las Cruces for more than seven years.

"I know in my (East Las Cruces) neighborhood there's been a lot more people move in since I've lived there, and I could see where some of those changes end up redefining the boundaries of a district. The sooner that's all said and done, the better it's going to be for everybody. We don't need any extra hassles as we go into municipal elections, where a majority of the City Council is going to be elected this year."

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.

Counting everybody

•The first 2010 U.S. Census results will be released late this week.

•Population counts for four state states - Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia - are expected to be released on Friday.

•When New Mexico's census results will be released was not disclosed Monday by U.S. Census officials.

•By federal law, all states must receive their census data by April 1.

•For each state, the Census Bureau will provide summaries of population totals, as well as data on race, Hispanic origin and voting age for multiple geographies within the state, such as census blocks, tracts, voting districts, cities, counties and school districts.

On the Web

•U.S. Census Bureau website: www.census.gov