Redistricting map gives county three representative seats

Current legislators support proposal; comment period ending on Monday

House and Senate districts in Arkansas are subject to change provided the proposed redistricting map is approved.

The deadline to comment on the map, as proposed, is Monday, Nov. 29.

Members of the Senate and House said some districts changed drastically while others remained relatively the same, with minor changes.

Rep. Reginald Murdock, DMarianna, said that once the map process has completed its 30-day public comment period, it becomes law.

"The map sits in a public comment period which ends on November 29," said Murdock. "The constitution allows for the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state to vote on what the map will look like."

According to Murdock, if no changes are made, his district will change drastically, and he would represent District 62 instead District 52.

"I currently have a lot of Forrest City and other parts of St. Francis County," said Murdock. "If this particular map is passed, then I will no longer represent any of that area. I will only represent the Wheatley Township. There will be another representative representing that area. My area will cover Lee, Phillips and parts of Desha counties all the way down to Dumas."

State Rep. Steve Hollowell, RForrest

City, whose district will change to District 37, said most of his area would remain the same with a few minor changes.

"I am glad I was able to keep the areas I kept, and I am looking forward to representing the areas that I have added," said Hollowell. "The map at this time can only be changed by a committee of the attorney general, governor and the secretary of state, but I do not see it changing now."

Hollowell said that through this redistricting phase, he would lose a small portion of his current area, but gain new constituents.

"Formerly, I had Wheatley and some of Monroe County, but I do not have that anymore," said Hollowell. "I basically have the same thing I had before in St. Francis County, with the exception of Wheatley. I did just have Wynne and the area east of Cross County, but now I have the rest of Cross County except the Parkin area. It now goes up into Poinsett County, like Tyronza and Marked Tree, the southern part of that county."

According to Murdock, although he will no longer formally represent this area, he said he would continue to serve in St. Francis County.

"I have represented the citizens of St. Francis County for 12 years and I plan to continue doing that even though I will no longer be its representative," said Murdock. "It is very near and

dear to me. The great thing about the relationships I have made in St. Francis County throughout my legislative life is that it allows me to continue to serve the citizens of St. Francis County. There will be a new formal representative there to represent them, but if I am called to help the citizens of St. Francis County, I will answer the call. St. Francis County means a lot to me. This is part of the change of demographics and how we are losing population in this part of the world.

"I will now take on Phillips County, which I have never done," continued Murdock. "I have always served them as well for many years, but now I will have a formal opportunity to be their official representative."

Hollowell said Rep. Deborah Ferguson, D-West Memphis, would be taking the area of St. Francis County that Murdock once held if the proposed map becomes law.

"There won't be a lot of change on my end," said Hollowell. "Representative Deborah Ferguson will be taking over the majority of what Representative Murdock had. She has everything south of Highway 70."

According to Ferguson, the change has given her a larger geographic area than what she had.

"I am originally from Parkin so I am really familiar with that part of the state," said Ferguson. "As you know, the Delta has lost so much population that they had to do a lot of work and redistricting to rebuild the districts. With the expansion, I have a larger geographic area which includes parts of St. Francis County. I am looking forward to representing a wider contingency."

The proposed map may be viewed at https://arkansasredistricting.or g, and comments may be made on the interactive maps.