CL – Partisan redistricting fight likely

Partisan redistricting fight likely

The decennial task of redrawing the districts from which Mississippi legislators are elected has produced some of the state’s most protracted political dramas.

Redistricting historically has sparked regional turf wars between urban and rural voters and racial battles between African Americans who demanded seats in the Legislature and those who were committed to keeping them out.

That task is before legislators once again. But in 2011, the battle is shaping up not around race or region, but pure partisan politics.

“You’ll have minority rights protected. All of that is settled. The issue this year is all about whether Republicans or Democrats control the Legislature.

Clarion Ledger
12/20/10