
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 8, 1991                   TAG: 9103080253
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

SENATE PANEL HOLDS HEARINGS ON REDISTRICTING

State Sen. Daniel Bird, D-Wytheville, is urging a big turnout for Monday's public hearing in the George Wythe High School library at 7 p.m. on redrawing Senate district lines.

The General Assembly now has four state Senate districts west of Roanoke. Due to population shifts, Bird said, the number could drop.

Others in Southwest Virginia are represented by Sens. John Buchanan, D-Wise; William Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, and Madison Marye, D-Shawsville.

"Some proposals have been to cut us back to three Senate districts," he said. "I'm very concerned about that because it would mean our people in Southwest Virginia have less representation in Richmond. . . . I hate to see us lose a whole Senate district out here."

Northern and eastern Virginia are each likely to pick up a district because their population has grown while Southwest Virginia has lost population, he said.

The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections will hold other hearings Tuesday in Danville, March 13 in Virginia Beach and March 15 in Manassas. Then it will review proposed district plans, and hold further hearings in Richmond during the redistricting process and special legislative session.

- Southwest bureau

by CNB