Latest news with #TarrantCountyCommissionersCourt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
SMU researcher says proposed Tarrant County redistricting 'diminishes' voting power
The Brief Tarrant County commissioners are set to vote on new district maps within days, a process led by Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare. Critics say the proposed maps violate racial protections in the Voting Rights Act by concentrating non-White voters into one district, diluting their voting power. An SMU researcher's analysis appears to suggest the new maps may be biased against non-White voters. TARRANT COUNTY, Texas - The Republican-led Tarrant County Commissioners Court is days away from voting to redraw district lines. Critics say the proposed maps violate racial protections in the Voting Rights Act. Now, an SMU researcher is applying her own mathematical review to the maps. The Latest SMU mathematics professor and researcher Dr. Andrea Barreiro has dissected and analyzed the newly proposed maps for Tarrant County districts, the work of a county-hired consulting firm and the public legal interest foundation. The researcher uses mathematics and technology to analyze the redistricting models. She says she was drawn to Tarrant County's current process as attention surrounding the topic began to grow. Barreiro looks for signatures of partisan and racial gerrymandering, she says. The current process to redraw the county's lines is led by Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare. At the center of the controversy are District 1, held by Commissioner Roderick Miles, and District 2, a seat now held by Commissioner Alisa Simmons, both Democrats. What they're saying "It looks like they made small modifications on this basic template where they swap the purple and the blue to get their desired outcome," Barreiro said. Barreiro says a randomly unbiased generated map based on the latest census data would have 60 to 65 percent non-White voters in each of those districts. "The proposed maps do something very different," Barreiro said. "They take a lot of those non-White voters in District 2, and they pack them into District 1, leaving District 2 to be majority White." Barreiro uses advanced software, applying a method known as Markov Chain Analysis. Her experience using the same technology includes similar analysis her team prepared during the state legislative redistricting cycle. "We have continued to reach out to Judge O'Hare for his response to allegations of racial gerrymandering by Simmons, Miles, as well as U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey and ten Tarrant County mayors," Barreiro said. Barreiro stops short of making a legal opinion on whether the proposed maps violate state and federal law. She does say it is clear what the consultant map-maker's mission is. "If black voters could be a large presence in two districts, but instead you pack all those people by picking your map cleverly, you get all those people into one district, then you diminish the voting power of that population," Barreiro said. "There are interesting methodological and mathematical questions about this whole process that I'm eager to explore, and I'm also just interested in basic fairness." What's next Late Thursday afternoon, O'Hare agreed to an interview with FOX 4. The meeting is set for Friday morning. A vote on Tarrant County's redistricting process is set for Tuesday. The backstory The mayors of 10 Tarrant County cities, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prairie, have signed a letter expressing their opposition to the proposed map. The group called the effort ill-timed because it's the middle of the decade and, in their opinion, the census data from 2020 is outdated. In early April, the commission voted three to two, with commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles opposing, to approve a contract with the Public Interest Legal Foundation to provide consultation with re-drawing district lines. The Source Information in this article came from SMU researcher Dr. Andrea Barreiro and previous FOX 4 reporting.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mayors clash with Tarrant County judge over "unlawful" redistricting plan
The Brief A proposed redistricting plan for Tarrant County, led by County Judge Tim O'Hare, could split Arlington into three districts. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross and nine other Tarrant County mayors oppose the plan, citing a lack of transparency, insufficient community involvement, and potential violations of state law and the Voting Rights Act. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is scheduled to vote on the new maps on June 3, with legal challenges expected if approved. TARRANT COUNTY, Texas - Proposed redistricting maps for Tarrant County, if adopted, could see the city of Arlington split into three separate districts. The plan is led by Republican county judge Tim O'Hare to re-draw the county's district lines. What they're saying Mayor Jim Ross says that would be cumbersome for Arlington residents, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. He points to additional issues. "I've never seen a redistricting process go this quickly without any significant community involvement whatsoever," said Ross. "Where I draw the line in speaking up and standing in opposition to things is if it is done outside the boundaries of the law, and it is done without sufficient transparency." Ross tells FOX 4 that an expert law firm out of Austin was hired to examine what has been done or not with the Tarrant County commissioners' court. "They've come back to us with a report that there appear to be violations of state law, and the voting rights act federally. That's when I reached out to other mayors…" Ross is the mayor who initiated the letter of opposition addressed to county judge Tim O'Hare, that was signed by 9 other Tarrant County mayors, mostly from the southern sector. Mayor Ross says he reached out to O'Hare before sending the letter. "I told Judge O'Hare our preference was to pull it off the agenda for June 3 and let's slow the jets a little bit and look at this thing thoroughly, and we could be collaborative on it. He told me 'I'm not pulling it off the agenda. I'll see you June 3rd.'" O'Hare has said redistricting is needed due to demographics that have changed. Ross feels there isn't enough data to make any adjustments. "When you say there's been a change, yet you use the data from a census report from five years ago, you're using old data, but saying there's new changes. Well, the commissioners' court looked at that old data five years ago and didn't find it sufficient to make any adjustments." Mayor Ross states sufficient data needs to be presented to show that redistricting is not for the purpose of discriminating against minority demographics. "There's other ways of getting that demographic data to prove your point, but you need that data in order to show that you're not discriminating against minority groups. That's required by the voting rights act." A group of elected officials led by U.S. congressman Marc Veasey on Tuesday expressed opposition, calling the effort unlawful and discriminatory to minorities. Dig deeper With the vote on the new map scheduled for June 3, FOX 4 reached out to Judge O'Hare's office for a response. In early April, the commission voted 3 to 2, with commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles opposing, to approve a contract with the Public Interest Legal Foundation to provide consultation with re-drawing district lines. FOX 4 contacted the group on Wednesday for feedback on its work, but it has not yet responded. The Source FOX 4's Dionne Anglin gathered details for this story at a town hall event hosted by Congressman Mark Veasey, as well as an interview with Mayor Jim Ross.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Local leaders speak out against Tarrant County redistricting efforts
The Brief Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare is leading an effort to redraw the county's commissioner precinct maps. Some Tarrant County Commissioners, Fort Worth City Council members, and local mayors are opposed to the plan, arguing it's an attempt to eliminate the chances of a minority being elected. Legal experts say redistricting to favor one political party over another is allowed, but racial discrimination is not. FORT WORTH, Texas - Tarrant County Commissioners will soon vote on a controversial redistricting map. Not all commissioners agree on it, and some argue that it could reshape Tarrant County politics. What we know Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare is reportedly behind the effort to redraw the Tarrant County Commissioners Court precinct boundaries. He and some other Republicans argue the process is more than a decade overdue. New maps are often drawn after census data is released every 10 years. But in 2021, commissioners voted against making any changes. They'll vote again on June 3. The other side U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey made a public statement on Tuesday, strongly denouncing the proposed changes. "Let me saw it loud and clear for the people in the back. This is illegal. this is intentional racial discrimination. It still violates the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment," he said. "If you look at this map, you will see. If you look precisely at this map, you will see that it was meant to dilute black voting power and brown voting power in Tarrant County. Period. End of story." He was joined by two Democratic Tarrant County Commissioners – Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles – as well as several Fort Worth City Council members. The mayors of 10 Tarrant County cities, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prairie, have also signed a letter expressing their opposition to the proposed map. "What you see in this redistricting effort today is nothing more than Tim O'Hare's continued efforts to silence the voices of those in Tarrant County who do not believe like him, to silence the voices specifically of the black and brown members of our community," said For Worth Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck. The group called the effort ill-timed because it's the middle of the decade and, in their opinion, the census data from 2020 is outdated. They also argued that four community meetings are not enough to give residents a chance to express their opinions on the proposed new precincts. Dig deeper Political analyst Bud Kennedy said that while there's nothing in the Voting Rights Act to prevent a redistricting effort that favors one political party over another, there are restrictions against racial discrimination. "The Republicans feel like they have to do this because if they were to lose the county judge seat, along with a commissioner seat, the Democrats would flip the court," he said. "It's something you can do any time. You're supposed to use the best census information." Kennedy is not familiar with what census data the proposed map uses but said the newest estimates would show a growing population in the northern part of the county. He pointed out that, collectively, the opposing cities can't compete with the population boom of the county's northern voters. "You didn't see any mayors from the Republican precincts in the north half of the county on that list (of opposing mayors). There's a reason for Fort Worth to be upset. People in Southwest Fort Worth would have to go to an Arlington commissioner for help. There's a reason for Arlington to be upset about being divided. The problem is these two big cities don't have any control with the county courthouse right now. It's Southlake, Keller, and Haslet that have control," he said. Kennedy said if the map is approved, it will likely be challenged. But with the Supreme Court removing the requirement for pre-clearance of the redistricting map, the approved version would likely take effect while it is contested in court. Kennedy also pointed out that Veasey has been a vocal advocate for fair redistricting at every level. "This is right up his alley. If there is a flaw in this map, he'll find it," he said. The Source FOX 4's Dionne Anglin gathered details for this story at a town hall event hosted by Congressman Mark Veasey, as well as an interview with political analyst Bud Kennedy.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Effort to divide Keller schools was sneaky to the end. How do we prevent a repeat?
Common sense still prevails sometimes — even on the ham-fisted Keller school board. The idea to divide the school district into two has been abandoned, Keller leaders said Friday. Somehow, in announcing the decision, they managed to reinforce the very secrecy and underhandedness that helped doom the effort. School board President Charles Randklev and interim superintendent Cory Wilson told Keller parents in an email that the effort to break off the non-Keller parts of the district was ending. They cited an obstacle that they claimed just hadn't occurred to anyone: Resolving the existing district's $700 million bond debt would require new costs, undermining the stated goal of improving the financial situation for schools as state support slips and enrollment stagnates. The reversal was like the entire enterprise — sudden and abrupt, with no public airing and apparently reached by a handful of people in a most undemocratic manner. Two Keller board members found out as the email was circulating rather than any discussion with their supposed colleagues. And like the district split proposal, the reversal was confusing at best, misleading at worst. Randklev and Wilson patted themselves on the back for discovering the issue with the cost of bonds. Lawyers and experts we talked to raised it almost immediately, and it's just common sense: When you borrow money, you don't get to decide who pays it back and how. The banks do, and if the terms change, the banks are going to want a fresh deal — with new transaction fees and current interest rates. Perhaps the weight of opposition and questions about lawsuits and distribution of property made even Randklev and his faction rethink their arrogance. Not that they could ever admit it. The lessons here reach far beyond Keller. The most important, as we've emphasized from the beginning of this tainted enterprise, is that voters must be the ultimate decision makers on a government question this monumental. Every indication was that the faction behind the split was going to try to pull it off without an election, perhaps with the help of members of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. It's a specious reading of the Texas Education Code to say it allows creation of a new district through 'detachment' without an election. But lawmakers should take this opportunity to leave no doubt. A simple bill could amend state law to ensure that an election is held. A bill initially proposed by Fort Worth Rep. David Lowe would do that, as well as remove the Commissioners Court entirely from the process. That's a good starting point. It's clear, too, that Keller's leaders flouted at least the spirit of Texas law requiring public business be done in open formats. A few board members managed to hatch the split without even other board members in the loop. The public only found out when a Fort Worth City Council member whose constituents would be affected sounded the alarm. Efforts to determine if the law was broken shouldn't end because the split plan did. Civil suits aren't enough; the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office must investigate and prosecute if the evidence merits. Future officeholders must be made to think twice about this kind of subterfuge. An investigation is merited as well into how the board reached a 'decision' to drop the plan without discussion or a meeting that even included the full board. Texas' public meeting and open-information laws have taken a beating in recent years from government officials determined to find loopholes. If this abuse of their voters doesn't prompt lawmakers to respond, what will? In Keller, the work will be harder. Elections for three board seats in May will create a forum to air some of the issues exposed by the division effort. Those concerns are painful: Many residents believe that race, class or both were motivations for the divide, and they're angry that their elected leaders disdain them enough to try to run away. Keller ISD needs a board and superintendent dedicated to healing these breaches and ensuring that kids get what they need regardless of which side of U.S. 377 they live on. And most of all, families, taxpayers and voters in every corner of the district are entitled to leaders who won't try something this sneaky again. We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news — and to publish those views in the Opinion section. • Letters should be no more than 150 words. • Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. • Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: • Email letters@ (preferred). • Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic.
