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Arlington approves redrawn council districts that some say dilute Black, Latino voting power

Kailey Broussard, KERA News | Published on 12/16/2021

Arlington's new city council districts give slightly more voting power to voters of color, but NAACP and LULAC leaders said they do not reflect its diverse communities.

Arlington city council approved redrawn voting districts this week that some civil and voting rights groups say do not reflect growth in Black, Hispanic and Latino communities.

Council members gave final approval Tuesday to a map that redraws four of the city’s five single-member districts to more evenly split Arlington residents. The city-appointed redistricting task force selected the map as the best of five put forward — three from Bojorquez Law Firm, two from residents and community groups.

The approved map moves voters in the area between North Bowen Road, West Sanford Street, Oakwood Lane, and West Randol Mill Road/Westwood Drive from District 1 to District 4. District 3 residents in the boundaries of East Arkansas Lane, New York Avenue, Sherry Street, and East Mayfield Road will become part of District 5. The maps give slightly more voting power to Hispanic and Latino voters in District 1 and to Black and African-American voters in districts 3 and 5.

The 7-1 vote was the last needed to finalize the new districts ahead of municipal elections in 2022 when residents will decide four city council seats. Ruby Faye Woolridge, at-large District 6 council member, voted against the map.

Woolridge applauded the redistricting task force’s efforts and formation; the group marks the first time a community board formally advised city council during the redistricting process.

“I’m very grateful for that and I look forward to the future and the progress that will continue to be made,” she said.

Mayor Jim Ross was absent from the meeting.

The final vote followed months of criticism from local NAACP and LULAC chapters, whose leaders claimed the redistricting task force and council upheld districts that dilute voices in communities of color.

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