Redistricting: Don't let petty politics destroy Mississippi's future

By Staff
Oct. 1, 2001
The process of redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts from five to four is a fiercely political process that threatens to pit party against party, region against region, interest against interest. It threatens to divide at a time when Mississippi sorely needs unity in order to successfully face the future.
As they consider the various plans and get to the point of deciding on one, legislators should be guided by a single principle:
How to maximize the effectiveness of the Mississippi congressional delegation.
When the current debate is presented this way, it becomes obvious that a bipartisan redistricting plan endorsed last week by a variety of leaders is the best way to unite our state with new districts that adhere to traditional, regional lines and common interests. It is the best way to maximize the effectiveness of our congressional delegation.
Maintain identities
Correcting the horribly disfigured proposal known as the "Tornado Plan," the regional plan would maintain the historical identities that traditionally shape congressional districts in Mississippi from the Northeast to the Delta to Central to Southeast. It would strengthen education by keeping Mississippi's major research universities in separate congressional districts, allowing them to attract federal funding from a variety of sources, as they do today.
High growth and potentially high growth areas of the state would remain intact. For example, the Interstate 20 corridor from Lauderdale County to Rankin County much touted as a technology or automotive manufacturing corridor would be in the same district, the proposed new Third Congressional District. The I-10 corridor along the Gulf Coast, the Highway 78 corridor from Lee County to DeSoto County and the new I-69 through the Delta Other areas of Mississippi whose development is heavily influenced by vital transportation links would get similar consideration.
Protect military bases
Military installations in our state would be in separate congressional districts, maximizing their protection against future rounds of base closures.
Under the regional plan, both population and black voting age population of the four new districts are well within the legal variances. This alone could save costly and time-wasting court challenges.
This regional plan is a sensible, workable way to enhance Mississippi's future by strengthening the bonds of common interests. House Speaker Tim Ford and Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck would be wise to lead their respective members to adopt the key principles expressed in the regional plan as the basis for drawing the new congressional districts.
They have an opportunity to strike a solid blow for the best interest of the people of Mississippi at a momentous time in history, a time that demands unity over intrastate conflict and competition.