Va. lawmakers take a break from redistricting

RICHMOND

Pledging to resume deliberations before the end of the month, state lawmakers scattered Tuesday without taking final action on legislation to redraw Virginia's 11 congressional territories.

General Assembly members are to return to the Capitol on April 25 to work on the congressional plan and perhaps elect judges to court vacancies if officials can agree on candidates.

A fight over the role of race in political representation could await them.

A congressional redistricting bill drawn to protect incumbents - the delegation has eight Republicans and three Democrats - cleared the Republican-controlled House of Delegates on a 71-23 vote Tuesday.

That measure is pending in the Senate, where Democrats amended it in committee to give greater weight to minority voters in two Hampton Roads districts.

It was approved by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on a 9-6 party-line vote.

The map from Sen. Mamie Locke, a Hampton Democrat who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, would remake the 4th Congressional District into one with a majority of black residents.

In addition, her plan would reduce the proportion of blacks in the 3rd District. At present, that is the lone congressional territory in the state with a majority African American population and is represented by the only black member of Virginia's congressional delegation: Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat.

Locke said her plan to create another district where minority voters can influence elections is appropriate because the state population is nearly 20 percent African American.

Democrats point out that if congressional representation hewed to those numbers, blacks would hold two of Virginia's 11 seats.

Republicans counter that the House congressional map better reflects bipartisanship because it was approved with the support of GOP and Democratic legislators, and it features input from sitting congressmen.

While legislators battle over congressional boundaries, the bill they approved for state House and Senate territories is heading to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who will have seven days to modify it if he chooses.

Amendments from the governor could involve changes to the Senate Democrats' plan, which lumps two Republican senators from Virginia Beach into one district, among other features.

Virginia's redistricting plans ultimately face federal review for compliance with the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting interests.

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