The Senate Special Committee on Redistricting met on February 4 to discuss the matter of redistricting in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. This report covers invited testimony and a portion of public testimony. A video of the hearing can be found here.

 

The HillCo report below is a summary of remarks intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics discussed. This report is not a verbatim transcript; it is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Presentation

Dr. Lloyd Potter, Texas State Demographer

  • Apportionment File sent to POTUS by 4/30/2021
  • Redistricting Data File (PL 94-171) received by the governor after July 31st, 2021
  • PL 94-171 released to states in groups of 8; TX normally in first rounds due to timing of session, now unsure as to when TX will receive the file
  • PL 94-171 includes information on Race, age 18 and older, occupancy status, and group quarters by type (nursing homes, prisons, dormitories)
    • Data available on Census website
  • Texas added upwards of 4 million people since last census; set to add 2-3 congress seats
  • Provides linear forecast of Census Bureau Population estimates and TDC population Projections
  • Once we learn what the population is, districts will be divided, and ideal district size will be identified; ideal size threshold estimated to be about 4,000
  • Redistricting centered around population change and redrawing lines to properly represent communities
  • Has been tremendous growth in DFW area; especially Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Collin counties
  • Many areas of DFW have grown rapidly, and there are a lot of proposed Census Tract splits
  • By the end of 2021 or 2022, the Latino population will meet or exceed the non-Hispanic white population
  • Growth in the Asian population has contributed to population growth
  • Over 50% of population change driven by Hispanic population, over 80% driven by growth of minorities
  • Highlights redistricting resources available through Texas demographic center (link)
    • Graphs and maps, narrative descriptions of population changes
  • Highlights Census bureau resources for quality assessments of 2020 census (link)
    • Census bureau committed to transparency and accuracy, will conduct a post enumeration survey
  • Highlights Census Count Question Resolution Operation (CQR) (link)
    • If a state can provide sufficient evidence of an undercount in specific areas, the census will adjust numbers
  • Provides Census document on their commitment to transparency and openness

 

Public Testimony

 

Elizabeth Walley, Self

  • City of Mesquite; speaks out against partisan gerrymandering
  • Last redistricting, Mesquite City Council adopted principles to keep communities of interest together and draw lines fairly; Calls for state redistricting to adopt similar levels of transparency and openness for a fair process

 

Steven Gessup, Self

  • Navarro County resident, rural county with a desire to be grouped with surrounding rural counties; Currently SD 22 and desire to stay there, HD 8, CD 6; doesn’t want to be split into multiple districts

 

Serena P, Self

  • East Dallas resident, population growing greatly
  • Speaks out against gerrymandering and the negative affects it has on minority communities, Map manipulation divides country further

 

Gaylen Taylor, Self

  • Discusses current division of nation; asks that Redistricting remains constitutional
  • Speaks out against fragmenting minority communities which causes voter suppression

 

Domingo Garcia, Self

  • Dallas county resident: Since 1917 his organization (Supports Latino voters) has sued the state of Texas every ten years and one
  • Calls for delay of census count to ensure every voter is counted, highlights lack of Latino representation in the north Texas area despite the Latino population numbers
  • Highlights disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on Texas’ Latino communities

 

Voncile Hill, Self

  • SD 23 resident for over 40 years, former Dallas City council woman
  • Calls for maps that are fair for everyone, concerned with “cracking and packing”
  • Does not want districts to be split up, calls for council to not marginalize

 

Jeff Strader, Self

  • SD 23 constituent for about 20 years (neighborhood has been split into others at different points in time)
  • Asks that SD 23 is kept together this redistricting; have established relationship with senator and other neighborhoods in the same district
  • Requests virtual regional public hearing kept once maps are released for feedback

 

Carole Donavan, Self

  • SD 23, Dallas County Democratic Party chair; testifying to urge fairness and transparency
  • Discusses plummet of public trust in government and division of the two parties
  • Discusses what other states have put in place to make sure redistricting is fair and keep legislature in check

 

Sheila Petta, Self

  • SD 23, wishes to stay in the district and loves Senator West

 

Stephen Mason, Mayor of Cedar Hill

  • SD 23, SW Dallas county, highlights strong relationships and joint programs between close regions
  • Asks for these relationships to be respected and maintained during redistricting
  • Praises Sen. West for his open-door policies

 

David Delafuente, Self

  • Asks for fair drawing of maps with needs of constituents put above politicians
  • Highlights bond of DFW communities and asks that they are not cracked; urges urban and suburban communities to be kept together especially in 4 largest counties

 

Sophia Stanza, All On The Line TX

  • Asks transparency is fair and transparent and the history of lawsuits is taken into account
  • Speaks out against gerrymandering, especially its effects on minority communities
  • Points out that public hearings are held during working hours with little notice; asks hearings held after maps are drawn are different

 

Matthew Reynolds, Self

  • Asks that balance is central in the redistricting process; says balance is what will save the process

 

Frederic Douglass Haynes III, Self

  • SD 23: Calls for fair, just, transparent redistricting process
  • Highlights racial tensions of last summer that will be worsened if black communities are unfairly treated during the redistricting process
  • Representation matters, population growth and demographic shifts (primarily minorities) mean that additional African American, Latino, and Asian seats should be drawn

 

Julie Loewenberg speaking on behalf of Suzy Greenman, Self

  • Members of Jewish organization to support communities around Dallas
  • Asks that process is fair and open, calls attention to past mistakes and racial discrimination
  • Calls for another round of data after Census data is released, give citizens at least 7 days to review maps, give public at least 2 weeks’ notice before public hearings, continue virtual hearings, provide explanation of how maps are drawn
  • Maps should be focused on communities of interest and not political parties

 

Devon Allen, Tarryn County Commissioner for Precinct 2

  • County has added at least 200,000 residents since 2010; Minority population outpacing Anglo-growth and making up 2/3rds of county growth
  • Highlights history of congressional district and impact of minority vote on representation
  • In 2011 minority voters were split and voices were lost; stopped by the court- calls for this situation to not be repeated
  • Calls for a rejection of discriminatory actions, uphold rights of minority communities and amplify their voices and amplify their voting rights

 

Sergio de Leon, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5

  • Tarrant county JP 5 at the heart of Latino community
  • Recounts history of injustice within community, asks committee to respect Texas’ diversity and maintain majority minority districts

 

Dinette Man, Self

  • District 32, Preston Hollow
  • Having trouble accessing information that allows her to have her voice heard, disappointed at the lack of notice for public hearings
  • Calls for fair drawing of maps, especially for minority communities

 

Name, Self

  • Birdwell’s District 22, CD 6; calls for transparency and Latino representation
  • Considers current conditions a violation of Section 2 and 5 of VRA
  • Requests changes in CD 6 for Latino opportunity, urges transparency and publishing of public hearings ahead of time

 

Martha Gore, Collin County NAACP

  • Black community needs to be reflected on the state and federal level

 

Barry Gordon, Mayor of Duncanville

  • SD 23, discussed the affect of districting on so many essential issues
  • Highlights “Best South-West Partnership” and its relationship to Sen. West; requests present configuration not be changed
  • Asks citizen engagement to be maintained throughout the process

 

Rebecca Capehorn, Self

  • 33rd district, 2-year resident of Dallas, worried about divisiveness about country
  • Speaks against gerrymandering and map manipulation, calls for legislators to respect Voting Rights Act

 

Hunter King, Self

  • CD 6: see’s it as a great community district and asks for it to be kept the same or to add more rural counties