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Map needlessly divides Travis County

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Texas Senator Kirk Watson released the following statement Wednesday on the proposed redistricting map for the Texas Senate:                                                                            

It’s unfortunate that we are just now – so few hours before a critical legislative hearing, and less than three weeks before the end of this legislative session – seeing a map that will impact the lives of people in Travis County so profoundly.

For decades, minority voters have successfully joined in coalition with like-minded others to elect the candidates of their choice.  There is no good reason to divide this coalition – just as there is no good reason for Travis County, which easily has the population and communities of interest to entirely contain one Senate district – to be split up in this way.

The proposed District 14 maintains Travis County and the City of Austin as an anchor.  This part of the proposed district is one I know well, and the people know me.  I have represented and worked for these parts of Travis County, in one capacity or another, for almost 15 years.  And I have deep friendships and relationships in Bastrop County.  If this map holds, then this is a district I will run and win in.

But this isn’t about me.

This is about the people of Travis County, who may soon be divided yet again for no good reason.  And this is about a process that has excluded them.