Tuck's redistricting plan deserves attention

By Staff
Oct. 21, 2001
Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck has come forward with a plan for drawing new congressional boundaries that makes a lot of sense. Legislators should give it their full consideration as they wrestle with the politically-sensitive issue.
Tuck's plan creates a new central Mississippi district that essentially would give both U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., and U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows, D-Miss., a fighting chance to win should they eventually face each other. That's about as fair as it gets.
Importantly, Tuck's plan would leave Lauderdale County and most other east central Mississippi counties intact and in the central district where they share critical common interests. Clarke, Jones and Lowndes would be split.
With a black voting age population of 34.35 percent, her proposed new central district is part of a good plan worthy of positive attention.