Plan would shift Rep. Forbes' district away from his base

Chesapeake and its hometown congressman, U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, could see a fundamental shift in political clout under a new redistricting plan that would divide the city between three members of Congress.

Forbes, a Republican, would reside in a newly aligned Democratic-leaning 4th Congressional District - his house is less than a block inside its boundary line - under a plan that is headed to the state Senate after being approved by a legislative committee Tuesday.

The proposal is designed to give the 4th District a black majority to increase the potential for the state's 11-member U.S. House delegation to include two African Americans rather than one.

The plan was developed by the state's Legislative Black Caucus and presented by state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton. She argues that Virginia's population is about 20 percent black but has only one district where the racial balance allows for a competitive election.

Forbes declined to comment, but the Senate proposal has sparked an uproar among Chesapeake Republicans, who worry that it means the demise of their five-term congressman and dilution of the city's political influence.

"If this plan goes through, Chesapeake may not have a representative living in Chesapeake," City Council member Suzy Kelly said Tuesday.

"We're a city of almost a quarter of a million people and not even a sixth of us will be in the 4th District," said state Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake.

If adopted, the proposal would abandon the current 4th District boundaries, which take in all of Chesapeake and Suffolk and stretch up to Petersburg and northwest to Powhatan County.

Much of Chesapeake roughly south of Military Highway would become part of the 2nd District, which includes Virginia Beach and is represented by U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, a Republican.

Part of Western Branch would join the 3rd District, represented by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat and the state's lone black congressman.

The remainder, including South Norfolk and a narrow finger of territory between Battlefield Boulevard and the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River that stretches down to Forbes' house in Great Bridge, would be part of the 4th District.

The new 4th also would include parts of Suffolk and would extend to just east of Farmville. Its shape resembles a crude drawing of a dragon with Forbes' house on the tip of the creature's snout.

Locke acknowledged that boundaries were extended to include Forbes' home on Parker Road to make certain he remained in the 4th District. The district's boundary is just one house away from Forbes, at the corner of Parker and Johnstown roads.

Forbes, who easily won re-election last year, could have a tougher time under the Senate plan because his GOP base would shrink. For example, 61 percent of the voters in the current 4th District voted for a Republican for governor in 2009, but voters under the new 4th boundaries favored the Democrat by 60 percent.

The black caucus' plan, which is being considered by the Democratic-controlled Senate on April 25, is one of two congressional redistricting maps being considered in Richmond.

The GOP-controlled House of Delegates has approved a separate plan that doesn't include many significant changes in South Hampton Roads. Its backer says all the states' incumbent congressmen, including Scott, do not object to the plan.

However, Scott also has said that for two decades he has wanted the congressional boundaries to be drawn in a way to make it easier to elect a second African American to the House. Locke consulted Scott in drafting the Senate proposal.

Locke said Forbes' district was targeted as a possible new majority-minority district because caucus members found that the southeastern part of the state was the easiest place to make the change without "significant racial gerrymandering."

She said Scott agreed to support line changes that would significantly reduce the black population of his district to make sure the nearby 4th District had an African American majority.

Under the Senate proposal, the 4th District's demographics change from 60 percent white and 34 percent black to 40 percent white and 53 percent black. The competing House plan makes the 4th about 61 percent white and 32 percent black.

Scott's 3rd District would drop from a black-white ratio of 56 percent-37 percent to 45/48. The House plan would increase his black constituency, making the district 59 percent black and 34 percent white.

Locke, who is the dean of Hampton University's school of liberal arts, said it's regrettable that Chesapeake has to be split but it is important to correct what she and other supporters view as a racial imbalance.

Backers of the two plans said they're hopeful that a compromise can be worked out during negotiations in the coming weeks by the General Assembly and Gov. Bob McDonnell. If state officials are unable to agree, the dispute could end up in court or be decided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Because of Virginia's past history of racial discrimination, its redistricting plans must undergo a federal review to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

Locke said there is some room to negotiate but the caucus is not willing to back off its desire for a second black majority district. Any plan without one is "a nonstarter," she said.

State. Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who helped develop the Senate plan, said she's certain the issue will end up in court. Chances of a statehouse compromise are the same as "a snowball's chance in hell," she said.

Pilot writer Marjon Rostami contributed to this report.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com