Dist. 21’s fate in census’ outcome

Former Gov. Mike Foster wants to make sure St. Mary Parish’s Senate District 21 stays intact, continuing to represent all of St. Mary and Assumption parishes as it has done for the past 150 years.

“Any redistricting action should maintain a district that includes the parishes of St. Mary and Assumption as its core constituency,” Foster said. “This configuration has provided strong representation to the business interests of the two parishes, especially the sugar and oil industries. For this reason, it is important to keep these two parishes together in any redistricting plan.”

Bret Allain, a 2011 Republican candidate for the Senate 21 seat, hand-delivered Foster’s letter to the St. Mary Parish Council at its meeting last Wednesday. Allain asked the council to approve a resolution supporting a call for state lawmakers to hold the district intact regardless of the census outcome, which is scheduled to be released in February 2011.

Senate District 21 is currently represented by Sen. Butch Gautreaux, a Morgan City Democrat and current candidate for the state’s lieutenant governor job.

Because of term limits, Gautreaux only has one year left to serve. However, if he is elected lieutenant governor in the Nov. 2 election, a special election would be needed to fill the remainder of the senator’s term.

But population shifts in recent years have many questioning state representation across south Louisiana – including in District 21.

Since the 2005 hurricane season, there have been huge losses in New Orleans and gains in Lafayette. Federal law requires voting districts to be aligned based on the most recent population census.

St. Mary’s population is expected to reflect a population loss, but conversely, north Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are expected to show gains.

“District 21 will move slightly to the west or to the north,” Gautreaux predicted. “The more likely conclusion is that the district will keep Assumption Parish and lower St. Martin intact, lose the four precincts in Lafourche and some population along La. Highway 311 in Terrebonne.

“Additionally, the district will move slightly into St. Martin Parish,” he guesstimated.

But Sen. Norby Chabert, who represents District 20 – portions of lower Terrebonne and lower Lafourche – said creating a northern district that “startles both parishes” and mirrors his district to the south is clearly in his constituents best interests.

Chabert is among the members of the senatorial committee charged with redrawing the district lines.

“I take this responsibility very seriously, and I do not choose my words loosely,” he said. “Due to several factors – out-migration and severe population loss in New Orleans and other areas due to the recent hurricanes – Senate district lines in this state will look dramatically different the next time voters go to the polls. Anyone who thinks otherwise is not living in reality.”

Chabert said he is committed to working to keep St. Mary whole and the hub of a Senate district.

State Rep. Sam Jones, a Franklin Democrat, agrees the Senate district will change. Jones represents most of St. Mary, a stitch of Iberia and lower St. Martin parishes.

“It will be different,” he agreed. “However, there is enough of a population in north Lafourche and north Terrebonne to keep St. Mary and Assumption [parishes] together.”