The state Legislature has approved two identical Congressional District maps, but not without significant opposition. The maps contain one majority-minority district, despite calls from Black lawmakers a second one should be drawn, because the African-American population has grown to 33%. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson.
“It’s about people’s fundamental rights and you want the people in all of your parishes represented as well, but why is it only white people get to get represented fairly,” said Peterson.
But Slidell Republican and Chairwoman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Sharon Hewitt says they looked at adding another majority-minority district but based on the Census data the Black population is not concentrated enough to have two Black majority voting districts.
“We’ve worked this issue and I respect the differences of opinion but I do believe that this bill as presented does the very best job of meeting federal and state law and the redistricting principles that we adopted,” said Hewitt.
White Republican lawmakers were also upset that the Congressional map splits Grant Parish in half between the fourth and fifth districts and St. Mary Parish between the first and sixth districts. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment represents Grant Parish.
“How in the world did we make this decision without consulting the representative from Grant Parish, look it stinks from high heaven if you ask me,” said Firment.
Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says St. Mary Parish officials are not happy with having two different Congressmen.
“Letting me know they are not in the favor of having the parish or the city (Morgan City) divided between two congressional districts, so my vote is simply doing what I came here to do which is represent the people who sent me,” said Amedee.
It’s unclear if Governor John Bel Edwards will veto this map. A lawsuit is expected to be filed as well and whether the map can withstand constitutional remains to be seen as well.
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