Citizens consider logistics, not ward redrawing plans

In the first of three meetings held to establish a consensus for the consolidation of Durham's six wards into three, a group of approximately 30 political activists and concerned citizens convened to discuss issues raised by redistricting.

The discussion centered around the less-than-ideal locale for the forum, an auditorium within Durham's solid waste center in the extreme northeast section of the city. "It took me the longest time to find this place," participant Victoria Peterson said. "I want to tell you something.... With this place being so far out here, I feel that I was not invited, that you really did not want some of us here. And I'm not talking about race, I'm talking about thinking people."

The discontent over the meeting's location finally prompted the committee co-chairs of the redistricting project-Joe Becton of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and Patrick Byker of the Friends of Durham-to solicit suggestions for other, more central venues for the next forum. After several recommendations by members of the audience, Becton announced that he would attempt to book a meeting space at City Hall in downtown Durham for the next forum, which will be held March 14.

The lack of detail in the data handed out by Durham County Planning Commission was another of the forum participants' major concerns. Several citizens expressed their displeasure that the handouts given to them at the start of the meeting did not specify the exact racial makeup and political party breakdown of each ward. The maps' omission of landmarks to distinguish boundaries between districts also agitated some of those in attendance.

Due to these procedural concerns, participants debated few issues relating to the actual setting of new ward boundaries. However, Durham County Board of Elections attorney Michael Crowell, from Tharrington Smith law firm in Raleigh, discussed how new census numbers-which have not been disclosed yet-will affect the redrawing of wards. He enumerated a variety of considerations that have been factored into other redistricting efforts, including maintaining geographically compact wards, accounting for possible growth in particular areas and keeping council members in the wards in which they were elected.

"Usually, when the board is redistricting, you want to take into account where the incumbents live, because it creates certain legal problems when you redistrict somebody out of their district in the middle of their term," Crowell said. "I leave that up to you whether that ought to be an issue or not."

Despite the debate over logistics, Byker said he looks forward to more debate on the issue. "Not having any expectations for it," he said, "I think we had a strong turnout across the room. I think, as we always do in Durham, we're going to have a real honest discussion about issues, including race, and hopefully we'll come to a good plan in a few weeks."