It's possible we're not yet done with issues concerning the city of Dallas's new council-districts map. Lawsuits, after all, have been threatened by Hispanic leaders demanding five majority Latino districts. But some two weeks after several city officials went to D.C. to visit with Department of Justice officials about the new map, which the council barely passed in early October and puts Delia Jasso and Scott Griggs in the same district, City Hall sends word: Far as the Department of Justice is concerned, it's good to go.
This is release just sent by Dallas City Hall:
Today the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division notified the City of Dallas that it does not interpose any objection to the Redistricting Plan for the Dallas City Council approved on October 5, 2011. The approved districting plan will go into effect for the 2013 City Council election.
Tom Perkins, Dallas City Attorney, stated that the pre-clearance indicates that the plan does not create a retrogression of the rights of minority voters to elect candidates of their choice, as protected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
"I am pleased with the outcome," said Mayor Mike Rawlings. "This confirms that the redistricting plan approved by the City Council increases the opportunities for minority representation. It is my belief in the future we will see a majority of minority council members sitting around the horseshoe."
"I would also like to thank the Chair of the Redistricting Commission, Ruth Morgan, and all of the members of the Commission for their service to the City and their hard work," added Mayor Rawlings.
