New Braunfels City Level Redistricting Process Reviewed
by Daphne Spraitzar, V-P for Program
[as part of the LWVTexas' Redistricting Advocacy, Spraitzar reports on the redistricting process used by the City of New Braunfels]
The redistricting process approved by New Braunfels City Council was transparent and open, incorporating many of the best practices recommended by the LWVTX and LWVUS.
.The law firm the city hired laid out the process and legal requirements clearly and worked with an appointed citizen redistricting committee to draw map that were legally sound.
.The law firm also clearly laid out “what not to do” and explained in detail why some redistricting practices were either illegal or unfair.
.The public was provided an opportunity to both submit their own maps for consideration and to review and comment on the maps drawn by the law firm.
.The city opened a public website where residents could view proposed maps and also posted redistricting information on its Facebook page.
.Additionally, the New Braunfels Herald Zeitung published 5 articles (September 10, September 29, October 20, December 3 and January 4) detailing the work of the committee and city council, and publicizing the public meetings, websites, and social media postings.
New Braunfels’ population on Census Day, April 1, 2020, was 90,370, an increase of 56.5% from the 2010 count of 57,740. Since there are 6 single-member city council districts, the ideal district size would be 15,062. Districts must be within 10% deviation from the ideal size to achieve a “substantially equal population,” and meet the one person, one vote legal principle. Due to the growth, several districts were outside the 10%. District 2, which includes the southern and southeastern parts of the city, mainly in Guadalupe County, had grown to 21,036 residents, over the ideal by 39.7%. By contrast, District 6, which includes the central part of town, had only 9,821 residents, below the ideal by 34.79%. District 1, the southwestern part of the city, was closest to ideal. District 5, which includes downtown and locations on the eastern side of the city, was also within the 10%, but Districts 3 and 4 were outside the 10% deviation.
The New Braunfels City Council was responsible for redrawing the city’s 6 voting districts. In January 2021, the city hired the Bojorquez Law Firm to do the maps. To involve the community in the redistricting process, the city council approved forming a 10 member redistricting committee to work with Bojorquez Law Firm and make recommendations to the city council on proposed maps and how to move forward. Seven of the members were appointed directly by a member of the city council (mayor and 6 councilmembers). A member of LWV-Comal Area, Kim Farlow, was appointed as one of the three at-large members.
The Redistricting Committee met on October 26, November 15 and December 2, to review maps. The Committee reviewed initial (2010) voting district maps and compared these against maps showing Black and Hispanic community populations.
.Black community population was largest in District 2 and smallest in District 6.
.Hispanic community population was largest in District 1 and smallest in District 3.
Two maps were considered, Draft Map A and Draft Map B. Draft Map B was preferred by both the committee and the council. Both Draft Maps were submitted to the public for review and comment online from November 8 through December 6, 2021. During this same time, the public could submit maps online. No written comments were submitted nor were any maps submitted. Draft Map B was ultimately approved by the city council. Differences between the maps are described below.
The City also held two public meetings. During the first public meeting, on September 13, 2021, Alan Bojorquez provided a workshop on redistricting, legal principles and guidelines, Voting Rights Act requirements, and the process the firm would use to help the city draw new maps. Rezzin Pullum, a Municipal attorney with Bojorquez, attended and provided information and analysis at all other committee and city redistricting meetings. The second public meeting was held January 5, 2022, to allow the public to comment on the proposed maps.
Draft Map A:
Total Maximum Deviation: 1.33%
All District boundaries were redrawn.
Biggest changes were to District 2 (-6,042 people) and District 6 (+5,230 people)
Smaller adjustments were made to Districts 3, 4, and 5, with District 1 changing only by +32 people.
Districts 1 and 5 have largest Hispanic population (District 1: 47.9%; District 5: 44.6%)
Districts 1 and 2 have largest Black population (District 1: 3.8%; District 2: 3.1%)
No substantial retrogression in Minority voting power.
Draft Map B:
A copy of this map can be found at: Map B/3239/Redistricting
Total Maximum Deviation: 3.6%
All District boundaries were redrawn.
Biggest changes were to District 2 (-6,146 people) and District 6 (+4,931 people).
Smaller adjustments were made to Districts 3, 4, and 5, with District 1 changing only by +82 people.
Districts 1 and 5 have largest Hispanic population (District 1: 48.0%; District 5: 44.8%)
Districts 1 and 2 have largest Black population (District 1: 3.6%; District 2: 3.1%)
No substantial retrogression in Minority voting power.
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