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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 8, 1991                   TAG: 9103080486
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

CROWD URGED FOR HEARING ON REDISTRICTING

State Sen. Daniel W. Bird Jr., whose district includes Pulaski and Giles counties, is urging a big turnout for Monday's hearing on redrawing Senate district lines. It will be at George Wythe High at 7 p.m.

The General Assembly has four state Senate districts west of Roanoke. Because of population shifts, Bird said, the number could drop in the redistricting.

"Some proposals have been to cut us back to three Senate districts," Bird said. "I'm very concerned about that because it would mean our people in Southwest Virginia have less representation. . . ."

Northern and Eastern Virginia are each likely to pick up a district because they have grown while Southwest Virginia has lost population, he said. He said Southwest Virginians should let the Committee on Privileges and Elections know they want to keep all four districts. The committee will hold other hearings Tuesday in Danville, March 13 at Virginia Beach and March 15 at Manassas.

Bird also represents Wythe, Bland and Tazewell counties. The region also is represented by Sens. John Buchanan, D-Wise; William C. Wampler Jr., R-Bristol; and Madison Marye, D-Shawsville.

by CNB