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.
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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.
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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