Chatter - focuses - on new - district - *Corpus Christi could be part of conservative bloc
Jaime Powell
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
July 20, 2010
Long a bastion for Democrats, Corpus Christi could be the hub for a new, more conservative congressional district after redistricting during the next legislative session, area and state lawmakers said.
The reason is because House District 27, which includes a swath of South Texas from Nueces and San Patricio counties south to Cameron County, could have the northern portion carved off because of population growth in the Rio Grande Valley, said state Rep. Aaron Peña, a member of the House Committee on Redistricting.
"I think Corpus Christi is going to be ground zero for many of the changes that occur in Texas," said Peña, D-Edinburg.
The U.S. Constitution calls for reapportioning 435 congressional seats among the 50 states every 10 years, after the U.S. Census. The congressional district boundaries are redrawn by state lawmakers.
Because other states have lost population, and Texas,
the nation's second most populous behind California, has grown, Texas is expected to gain three or four congressional seats.
It's almost a given that suburban areas with massive growth near Dallas, Houston and San Antonio will vie for additional congressional representation. But based on U.S. Census estimates from 2009, Hidalgo and Cameron counties compare to or exceed growth in most other areas, and the predominantly Hispanic growth in the Valley means something extra.
Because congressional districts must reflect minority growth, U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Robstown native who has a primary residence in Cameron County, could see his district shrink in the northern region while picking up a piece of Hidalgo County, Peña said.
"It's not gospel, but it will shrink down, in my opinion, from its northern regions," Peña said.
Gene Seaman, a former Republican state representative from Corpus Christi who is a veteran of redistricting, said it's a matter of pure logic and numbers.
"The Rio Grande Valley will pick up a congressional seat," he said. "When that happens, (House District) 27 would be split off from Nueces County."
Republican lawmakers, because they hold the top elected positions statewide as well as control the Texas House and Senate, likely will lead the effort when the Legislature convenes in January. The lines they draw will affect U.S. House Districts, state Senate and House districts and districts for the State Board of Education.
The idea is to equalize population among electoral districts after increases or decreases in population. Any political district must have equal or nearly equal populations, and districts cannot infringe on voting rights based on race or language group.
A new congressional district likely would wind toward either Houston or San Antonio, and probably would include San Patricio and Aransas counties, both of which are trending Republican.
"Any new district is likely to be a conservative district," Peña said. "Whether it will be held by a conservative Democrat or Republican is what those counties will have to decide. It will depend on how it is drawn and on areas, whether they vote Republican or Democrat."
San Patricio County Judge Terry Simpson, who recently switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, and former Nueces County Republican Party chairman Mike Bertuzzi said that many area and state Republicans believe South Texas will get the new district Peña refers to and that there already has been much discussion about the issue.
"We don't know the exact configuration," Bertuzzi said. "Maybe Jim Wells, Duval, San Pat, Nueces, Aransas and probably Victoria, Calhoun and Dewitt. That is kind of the idea."
Bertuzzi and others say the frontrunner for a new conservative congressional seat is state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, who holds a prominent chairmanship in the state Legislature and whose current state house district includes several of the counties mentioned for a possible new U.S. House District.
Hunter does not deny he is interested in a congressional seat and instead laughs off questions at political gatherings.
"I am honored that many of my constituents would support or view me in that particular position, but it is premature for me to make any decision," said Hunter, who will co-host a redistricting hearing Wednesday in Corpus Christi.
Ortiz, of Robstown, has a house in the Rancho Viejo Country Club neighborhood in Cameron County and maintains deep political ties in the Rio Grande Valley. He did not return requests for an interview.
While no official census numbers will be in hand, hearings such as Wednesday's provide a chance for residents to present testimony concerning local preferences, communities of interest, local voting patterns and other issues that lawmakers might consider when redrawing lines, Hunter said.
Redistricting hearingThe Texas House of Representatives Committee on Redistricting and the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence will have a joint meeting to discuss redistricting.
What: Residents can present testimony concerning local preferences, communities of interest, local voting patterns and other issues that lawmakers might consider when redrawing lines.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Corpus Christi City Hall Chambers, 1201 Leopard St.
Who: Open to the public
what is redistricting?The Texas Legislature is required to redistrict state Senate and House districts in the first regular session following publication of the U.S. census. Though no Texas constitutional or statutory provisions govern congressional and State Board of Education redistricting, as a practical matter the 82nd Legislature also must draw districts for the congressional seats apportioned to Texas and for the State Board of Education before the candidate filing period opens for the primary elections held in 2012.
If new boundaries for the Texas Senate or House districts are not enacted in the regular session of the 82nd Legislature or if a plan is overturned by court challenge within the 90-day period in which a Legislative Redistricting Board is given redistricting authority, the state constitution requires the five-member board made up of the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, attorney general, comptroller and land commissioner, to meet and adopt a new redistricting plan.
If new boundaries for congressional or State Board of Education districts are not enacted during the regular session, the issue may be taken up in a special legislative session. If no special session is called, then the issue may be addressed in state or federal court.
The Jan. 2, 2012, filing deadline for the primary elections allows about seven months from the end of the regular legislative session for the governor to act on any redistricting legislation passed; for the Legislative Redistricting Board to meet if necessary; for any special session called to consider redistricting if necessary; for obtaining preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act; for judicial review, and for counties to make changes in county election precincts.
Redistricting Timetable2010April 1 Census Day
Summer-fall Regional outreach hearings in selected cities, including a July 21 meeting in Corpus Christi, are scheduled.
Dec. 31 Deadline for delivery of Texas' total population data2011Jan. 10 Deadline for announcement of number of congressional seats apportioned to the states
Jan. 11 82nd Texas Legislative Session convenes
Feb. 15 Earliest likely delivery of census population data
April 1 Deadline for delivery of census population data
May 12 Last day to pass House bills under current rules (rules may change)
May 30 82nd Legislature adjourns; deadline for enactment of state Senate and House districts
May 31-Aug. 27 Legislative Redistricting Board convenes if Legislature fails to adopt a Senate or House plan
Summer-fall Special session on congressional and State Board of Education plans could be called, if necessary.
Oct. 26 Last day Legislative Redistricting Board may adopt a plan
Fall All plans drawn by the Legislature, the Legislative Redistricting Board or a state district court must obtain Department of Justice preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
June-December Possible court challenges to redistricting plans2012Jan. 2 Filing deadline for 2012 elections
March 6 Primary electionsSource: Texas Legislative Council