Some question GOP's motives in panel picks

RICHMOND

Arlington Democratic Del. Bob Brink was dismayed to learn recently of his removal from the House Privileges and Elections Committee, which he had served on since 2002.

Although the Republican majority made other roster changes to reflect its November gains, that shift raised eyebrows because Brink was among a couple of white Democrats replaced on the committee by black legislators.

To some, it was a sign that House GOP leaders are stacking Privileges and Elections as redistricting approaches in 2011, a charge Republicans deny.

Legislative boundaries are redrawn every 10 years in Virginia following the latest population count. Those maps must gain approval from the General Assembly, the governor and federal authorities.

The addition of Hampton Roads Democratic Dels. Lionell Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake and Algie Howell Jr. of Norfolk doubled the African American representation on the panel, which plays a key role in redrawing the election maps. Spruill and Howell join Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Kenneth Alexander, a Democrat from Norfolk, and Del. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg.

Brink believes the new committee alignment is about the "atmospherics" of having black legislators support the Republican redistricting plan, giving it "bona fides" when the U.S. Justice Department reviews it for Voting Rights Act compliance.

House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, denied that the appointments come with any expectation of loyalty to Republican interests during the debate over redistricting.

"Oh, heavens no," said Howell, who noted that he has a record of placing minority lawmakers on key committees, including four black legislators to Appropriations.

Alexander is willing to offer Republicans the benefit of the doubt.

"I think you have to consider that they are sincere in putting the best qualified legislators on committees they appoint," he said.

Norfolk Democratic activist Vivian Paige isn't convinced.

She views the relationship between black Democrats and House Republicans on redistricting as an "unholy alliance" that may preserve majority-minority districts but cannibalize other Democrats.

How districts are creatively crafted to protect incumbents and penalize opponents can be political gamesmanship at its finest or most duplicitous, depending on one's perspective.

"We all talk about good government and open government," said Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke. "But the truth is, we know that the party in power uses that as a tool to either strengthen their political power... or they use it to dilute districts so they can pick up other seats."

That's how it's been done for years. And that's how it's expected to occur next year, with House Republicans protecting their own and Senate Democrats doing the same, said Joe Stanley of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

The center advocates reforming the redistricting process to make it less political.

As of last week, the 18-member Black Caucus hadn't taken a position on redistricting, several members said. But despite support for the idea of reform from Gov. Bob McDonnell and numerous state senators, many House GOP officials remain opposed to it.

Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, who carried the bill defining House boundaries in 2001, considers bipartisan redistricting a misnomer.

"There will always be politics involved in this process," he said. "And I don't think the commonwealth has suffered because of it."

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com