Poll: Council Gives Second Reading to Redistricting

Dorchester County Council unanimously approved a second reading to its redistricting plan. The plan will be passed on the third reading, and then go on to the U.S. Justice Department for approval.

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A public hearing was given on Monday at the council's St. George chambers, but no one spoke. 

Council will go with Plan 7 out of the seven plans created earlier this year. 

The biggest changes over other plans in Plan 7 are in the Ashley Phosphate and Westcott areas.

During the Aug. 22 meeting, Council Chairman Larry Hargett expressed concern that his district, District 4, would now contain all of Westcott.

"I will have more growth in that district in one year than the rest of the council," he said. "That's where the growth is right now … If we go with Plan 7, I'm going to have all the growth and how is that fair?"

However, according to staff, Plan 7 offers the second highest minority concentration (55.104 percent) and the best population balance (2.563 percent). 

Bobby Bowers of the state Budget Control Office recommended Plan 7 during the special meeting.

"Your attorney would have to explain (to the Justice Department) why you chose a plan with a lower minority plan (if council does not choose plan 7)," Bowers said.

The basic guidelines for 2011 redistricting include:

• Adhering to the Constitutional Requirement of one person, one vote (i.e., mathematically equal districts) 
• Adhering to state law of population variance under 10 percent
• Adhering to the 1965 Voting Rights Act as amended 
• Keeping parts of districts are contiguous 
• Respecting communities of interest 
• Attempting to maintain constituent consistency 
• Avoiding splitting voting precincts 
• Soliciting public input