'I may not run,' Sen. Robinson says following release of new district plans

By Carey Phillips

However, the plan, which has yet to receive official approval, would eliminate one state senator from west of the Balsams, prompting Sen. Dan Robinson of Cullowhee to say he may not run for re-election in the Republican-leaning district.

The state appealed the ruling to the N.C. Supreme Court, which Tuesday refused to grant a stay and announced oral arguments will not be heard before January. The only remaining obstacle appears to be approval of the new districts by the U.S. Justice Department.

State Republicans filed suit early this year claiming districts approved by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly were unconstitutional because counties not covered by the federal Voting Rights Act were divided in violation of the state constitution.

Jenkins, a Republican, agreed and ordered new districts be drawn. The state appealed, but the Republican majority on the N.C. Supreme Court agreed with Jenkins, saying counties should not be divided if at all possible and districts should be more compact.

Both houses of the General Assembly approved new plans, drawn mainly along party lines. Jenkins took the House plan and made some changes to it; however, he used a Republican alternative as the basis for drawing Senate districts. The plans approved by Jenkins include the division of numerous counties not covered by the Voting Rights Act.

"The redistricting plan adopted by the Superior Court judge changes the dynamics of the 29th Senatorial District," Robinson said. "Of course, it's obvious it was a well thought out plan by those who wanted to change the dynamics."

The new 50th Senatorial District includes all of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Swain, Macon, Jackson and Transylvania counties and five precincts in southern Haywood County. It would pit Robinson, a Democrat, against Franklin's Bob Carpenter, a Republican, if both men choose to seek re-election.

The Senate's current 29th District includes all or most of Swain, Jackson and Haywood counties and parts of Macon, Transylvania and Henderson counties. Carpenter represents the current 42nd District, which includes the Cashiers Precinct in Jackson County, as well as all or part of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, Haywood, Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe and Polk counties.

"If this turns out to be the plan, in all likelihood I will not run, knowing the political dynamics of the district," said Robinson, who in 1998 became the first Jackson County resident elected to the state Senate since 1970. "It's a hard decision to make."

Democrats make up 46 percent of registered voters in the 50th District, followed by Republicans at 36.5 percent, Unaffiliateds at 17.4 percent and Libertarians at .1 percent.

Voting patterns tell a different story as Republicans carried 2000 races for governor, state auditor and chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.

Robinson said he is particularly upset by most of Haywood County, which is heavily Democratic, being removed from his district. Democrats had proposed putting the seven counties from Haywood west in a district, although a few precincts from southern Haywood or Jackson would have been dropped to comply with population figures, he said.

Carpenter proposed an alternative keeping his and Robinson's districts separate, Robinson said. That was included in the proposal sent to Judge Jenkins. "I have lost so much confidence in the judicial system," Robinson said.

In the House, Jackson is included in the 119th District, along with all of Swain, 12 precincts from Haywood and one from Macon.

"I am very pleased with the district," said Rep. Phil Haire, a Sylva Democrat. "I think it meets all the criteria the court laid out. It's a more compact district, and it will give us the opportunity to work for the betterment of Western North Carolina."

Haire, who in 1998 became the first county resident elected to the state House since 1964, said he is happy the plan calls for Jackson County to remain together.

The current district includes both Hamburg and Cashiers precincts in an area represented by Republican Roger West of Marble. The remainder of Jackson County is represented by Haire and Waynesville Republican Marge Carpenter. Haire and Carpenter would not be in the same district under the new plan.

Voter registration for the 119th District includes 53.8 percent Democrats, 28.4 percent Republicans, 17.8 percent Unaffiliateds and .1 percent Libertarians. District voters supported Democrats for governor, auditor and chief justice in the 2000 elections.

While Haire said he is generally pleased with the makeup of the 119th District, he is not happy with the process.

"As a lawyer, I'm upset by the court order," he said. "The judge made no findings of facts or conclusions of law. It's not up to the court to redistrict. That is inherent to the General Assembly."

Once final approval is given to the new districts, a filing period of at least 10 days will be held; the primary will be held no sooner than 35 days later, said Lisa Lehman, director of elections for Jackson County.

If the plans put forth by Jenkins are approved, voters are warned not to get too accustomed to them. They will be used only for the 2002 elections. Legislators elected this year are set to draw new districts to take effect in 2004.

Back to Archive: 06/06/02.