Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 10, 1991 TAG: 9104100235
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: ROB EURE POLITICAL WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"To sign it would be indefensible," Wilder said at an impromptu news conference. "The people of Virginia don't deserve a reputation for turning the clock back on the progress that has been painstakingly made."
Wilder officially will receive the final House and Senate redistricting bills in the next three or four days and then has seven days to sign them into law, veto or modify them.
Once Wilder vetoes or modifies the bills, the General Assembly will be called back into session immediately, said House Speaker A.L. Philpott, D-Bassett.
Wilder said the Senate plan, which calls for three black-majority districts in the 40-member body, "speaks poorly of the leadership."
Civil rights activists have argued that blacks could be a majority in four or five Senate districts. The Senate has two black-majority districts now.
Wilder would not say how many black-majority districts he believes can be drawn, but he said last week that his staff was preparing its own version of the plan. He also likely will look at an alternative plan for four black-majority districts proposed by Norfolk Sen. Yvonne Miller.
The governor has not been critical of the House of Delegates' plan to redraw its 100 districts. By increasing the number of black-majority districts from nine to 11, the House has tentative backing from civil rights groups.
But Wilder said he will review and may amend the House bill, which has infuriated Republican delegates because it lumps 15 Republicans in districts with other GOP members.
Once Wilder and the legislature agree on redistricting, the plans go to the U.S. Justice Department for review under the Voting Rights Act. The federal agency has promised to complete its work in 60 days, clearing the way for legislative elections in November.
If, however, the Justice Department or the federal courts reject the plans and force the legislature to start over, this year's election is in jeopardy.
Legislators either would run under old districts this November and face re-election in 1992 with new districts, or - as happened in at least one other state after the 1980 census - they could skip this year's election pending a new, final plan and run in 1992.
When Virginia's 1981 plan was rejected, legislators ran for one-year terms.
Either way, Democrats are nervous at the thought of running in 1992 with President Bush on the ballot, because Republicans historically do better in presidential election years.
The House and Senate approved each other's plans Tuesday before recessing. The Senate passed the House plan 24-12, and the House approved the Senate plan 49-40 with eight members abstaining, including the seven black delegates.
Several minor amendments were made in each plan. Sen. Dudley "Buzz" Emick, D-Fincastle, gave up several Rockbridge County precincts to Sen. Frank Nolen, D-Augusta, in a move that straightens out lines for that district. Emick's district would start in Bath County and stretch south to take in half of Pulaski County and Radford.
In the House, Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, unloaded several precincts in Bedford County, where his support for the proposed Explore Park has been unpopular. Cranwell traded the Hardy and Chamblissburg precincts and part of the Stewartsville precinct for the Montvale precinct. He has represented Montvale for the past decade.
The switch involves a district that lumps together Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, and Del. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle.
Keywords:
POLITICS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB