City Council and School Board oppose redistricting plan
On Monday, the two unanimously passed a joint resolution that was delivered to Austin urging Representatives to keep House District 106 so the more than 123,000 Dallas County residents could retain a Representative who resides in or is largely affected by the voters of Grand Prairie.
The proposed redistricting plan drawn up by the Texas House Redistricting Committee is a response to the population shifts in the 2010 census that call for Dallas County’s Texas House districts to adjust their boundaries.
Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England said he understands that districts in Dallas will have to be redrawn, “But to redraw the map where it only impacts Grand Prairie to the west is absolutely ludicrous. We’re not going to sit still for that.”
He feared the proposed plan would make the city vulnerable to outside interests and effectively deny citizens the right to choose a Representative that has the interests of Grand Prairie.
If the city was divided into four districts, “It would destroy Grand Prairie politically with any influence in Austin at all,” Mayor England said.
The city and school district have secured legal counsel, he said, and will use whatever means necessary either through the Justice Department or the courts to fight the plan.
“This is not about being a Republican. It’s not about being a Democrat. It’s not about what race you are. It’s about Grand Prairie, Texas having a Representative in Austin elected by Grand Prairie people,” Mayor England said.
