State redistricting shuffles some communities

Heated floor debate and calmer behind the scenes compromise were the elements involved in drawing new districts for Louisiana legislators last Tuesday as the state Senate and House of Representatives each passed new maps of representation.

On the Senate side, a 27-12 vote led to what some critics called “bizarrely shaped districts” and split the Terrebonne Lafourche area from its current three districts into four. The meeting place for all lines will be Thibodaux, from where one of the four districts would be designated a majority minority district.

Some opponents to Senate Bill 1 claimed that a predetermined effort by influential political leaders came into play to protect those state senators up for reelection. Supporters said it is strictly a matter of numbers that dictate the drawing of lines.

Under the state senate mapping, Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, would continue to represent the southern sections of both Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, with a slight sweep into an area around Nicholls State University.

State Sen. Joel Chaisson (D-Destrehan) keeps a section of northeastern Lafourche Parish as well as covering areas of St. John the Baptist, St. Charles and Tangipahoa parishes.

State Sen. D.A. “Butch” Gautreaux (D-Morgan City), who had previously said he was willing to give up his section of Terrebonne Parish to keep St. Mary and Assumption parishes together, will now be representing the bulk of St. Mary, part of Terrebonne (including a section of west Houma), part of Thibodaux and a northern sliver of Lafourche Parish from Chackbay to Kraemer.

The fourth, minority Senate district, would originate in Thibodaux and cover most of northwestern Lafourche Parish. It would then enter into Assumption Parish to the west, go up to Iberville Parish, and cut back to West Baton Rouge Parish. On the north side of Lafourche, this majority minority district would reach into St. John the Baptist Parish.

Chabert, Chaisson and Gautreaux all voted in favor of the Senate map. Most of the opposition came from black Senators who complained that the minority districts were not compacted enough to make sense regarding representation of people with common interests and concerns.

Area House members, in contrast, claimed that although they had to give and take to make the required population numbers work, they are basically pleased with the results. A 70-28 vote resulted in criticism that not enough minority districts had been designated among their 105 seats.

“I’m fine with it,” said state Rep. Gordon Dove (R-Houma), who explained that he was absent for the final vote to attend to a personal matter. Gordon said that his area of representation in Terrebonne Parish grew to 45,305, with an approximate five percent high-end adjustment for the 45,000 cap, above a 43,174 ideal population level.

The most significant issue regarding area state House redistricting revolved around Grand Isle, which is in Jefferson Parish. It had been covered by state Rep. Jerome Richard (I-Thibodaux), yet is more geographically in line with the district of state Rep. Jerry Gisclair (D-Larose).

After it looked like Grand Isle and Larose could both be threatened with dividing lines, Gisclair offered an amendment that would keep Larose intact, put Grand Isle in his district and place Raceland with Richard.

“… They were trying to carve up Grand Isle to give it to the West Bank,” Gisclair said. “It didn’t make any sense.”

Gisclair and Richard confirmed that they both decided that was a good time to meet and determine among themselves what was the best move for the region.

“I found a way we could compromise so [Gisclair] could keep Grand Isle and I could keep the sixth ward intact,” Richard said. “That involved him getting half of Bayou Blue from me [and] I picked up Raceland to make the numbers work.”

Dove will represent the other half of Bayou Blue as part of his district. “But I still lost St. John [in the Thibodaux area],” Richard said. “We did try to have one representative for Bayou Blue, but the numbers wouldn’t work. There was never a dispute among [Gisclair and myself] on who should have Grand Isle. He is the right person to represent Grand Isle.”

Gisclair said most of any conflict came from areas outside the Terrebonne and Lafourche area.

“My argument before the session started was that all of our regions were being calculated at close to or better of the [maximum] 45,000 population instead of the [ideal] 43,174,” Gisclair said. “It didn’t give us much room to maneuver.”

Gisclair and Richard both voiced that even as they had to take and give in the mapping process, they were and remain examples of representatives remaining on good terms with one another. “We were friends before and no matter what the outcome was we are still going to be friends,” Gisclair said.

“I wish I would not have lost St. John, but everybody is happy,” Richard said.

“The big fight was between Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish. Orleans won,” Dove said.

Dove said the next issue facing the region regarding redistricting and reapportionment is the addition of a new judge for the First Circuit Court of Appeals. State Rep. Patricia Haynes Smith (D-Baton Rouge) is making a push for a first-ever minority judge to fill that position.

State legislators have not yet addressed the closely watched redrawing of congressional districts.

The Associated Press contributed to portions of this report.