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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tarrant County judge on redistricting: 'The mission is to get three Republican commissioners'
The Brief Tarrant County's redistricting plan is facing criticism for allegedly diluting the votes of non-White residents. County Judge Tim O'Hare openly states his goal is to guarantee three Republican commissioners on the court, increasing conservative leadership. Seven maps are currently under consideration before a vote on Tuesday, amid concerns about transparency and the use of outdated 2020 census data. TARRANT COUNTY, Texas - A plan to redistrict Tarrant County has recently come under fire after critics say it may be biased against non-White voters. County Judge Tim O'Hare isn't trying to hide his motive for redistricting: To further increase conservative leadership in Tarrant County by decreasing the number of Democrats in the commissioners court. O'Hare, the Republican county judge, presides over a panel that currently has two Republican and two Democrat commissioners. In his first one-on-one interview with FOX 4 since taking office, O'Hare welcomed us into his Southlake county courthouse office. What they're saying "On Tuesday I hope we pass a map that guarantees, or comes as close as you can to guarantee, three Republican commissioners," O'Hare said. "That was my plan and what I campaigned on openly and publicly, dating as far back as May 2021." He responded to critics who are opposed to his effort to redraw Tarrant's district lines, with allegations that his plan lacks transparency and sufficient public input, along with claims that it is racially discriminating and violates the federal voting rights act. "It's purely partisan. I'm not going to try to hide from that or act like it isn't. That's exactly what it is," O'Hare said. "We've had four different meetings in each precinct, we put maps online for anyone to look at and see and go over them. We've given people the opportunity to submit their own maps and weigh in with comments through the website, through emails, through the public forum, through commissioners court meetings… So, I don't know how anyone with a straight face can say this is not transparent." When asked if he believes the redistricting plan constitutes racial gerrymandering, O'Hare made his end goal clear. "At the end of the day, I'm doing it to put another Republican on the commissioners court, period, the end," the judge said. "I don't look at it in terms of race, I look at it in terms of policy. I look at it in terms of results," O'Hare went on. "The mission is to get three Republican commissioners on the commissioners court." O'Hare compared his redistricting effort to a reversal of what's happened over the years in several now majority-liberal counties. "I didn't see these people come out and complain about what Dallas, Harris, Bexar or Travis County was doing, but they're complaining about what we're doing because they don't want to lose seats, but we know if they were in charge because they did it in those counties, that's their blueprint, we know if they were in charge here they do the same thing," the judge said. There is also speculation that O'Hare's focus is aimed specifically at unseating District 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons. The two have often sparred during meetings on a variety of topics. That said, the judge denies wanting to unseat the commissioner. "I campaigned on this issue dating as far back as 2021," O'Hare said. " At the time I did that, I had never heard her name, didn't know who she was, had picked her out of a lineup of one, so the answer to that is just simply 'no.'" Another concern from critics is whether the 2020 census data used to create the maps is too old. But the mayors who support the plan point out that Tarrant redistricting has been delayed even longer – nearly 15 years. O'Hare says there are now seven maps up for consideration before Tuesday's vote. "I believe Tarrant County would be better served if we have strong Republican leadership," said O'Hare. "Tarrant County voters have elected Republicans to every single countywide office dating back 30 years, but we have two to two when it comes to Republicans and Democrats on commissioners court. I think it should more accurately reflect our voting population, so I want to see it go three to one." The backstory 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. In an interview on Thursday, she said the goal of the redistricting appears to be to diminish the voting power of non-White county residents. 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. What's next Opponents of the plan have vowed to wage a legal battle if it's adopted. O'Hare said he believed that would go in his favor. The Source Information in this article came from Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare and previous FOX 4 reporting.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Tarrant County Judge defends redistricting process: "It's 100% about partisan politics"
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is set to vote June 3 on a controversial proposal to redraw precinct boundary lines — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from residents, local leaders, and civil rights advocates. County Judge Tim O'Hare, who initiated the redistricting process, told CBS News Texas on Friday that the effort aligns with a campaign promise he made in 2021. Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare CBS News Texas "This is something that I campaigned on dating back to 2021 — that this would be the time where we would look at redistricting," O'Hare said. O'Hare defends GOP strategy O'Hare has been open about his political motivations. "Give me a map that guarantees three Republican commissioners seats," he said. "That's what I've asked for." Currently, the Commissioners Court is evenly split with two Republicans and two Democrats. O'Hare, a Republican, believes adding another GOP commissioner would better serve the county. Critics cite racial concerns The proposed maps show significant changes to Precincts 1 and 2, both currently represented by Democrats. Critics say the new boundaries would shift areas with large Black and Hispanic populations out of Precinct 2 and into Precinct 1, potentially diluting minority voting power. In response to accusations of racial gerrymandering, O'Hare said, "This is about partisan politics. You can legally in this country, according to the U.S. Supreme Court, draw maps for partisan purposes. So for me, it's 100% about partisan politics." 10 mayors urge delay, review Ten Tarrant County mayors — including those from Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie — signed a letter urging commissioners to delay the vote. They warned that the proposed maps could violate the U.S. Voting Rights Act and face legal challenges. City councils in Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie also passed resolutions opposing the redistricting process. "We know Democrats are going to challenge," O'Hare said. "But when you say it can affect minority groups, I think Republican governance is better for all people, regardless of race. And I would also tell you, Democrats don't have a monopoly on non-whites." O'Hare said the redistricting would help ensure Republican leadership on the court for the next decade. "I believe Republicans offer better ideas for governing — better ideas for cutting taxes, eliminating waste, fraud and abuse, keeping people safe, and maintaining law and order," he said. "And I think every single countywide officeholder — judge, tax assessor, sheriff, D.A., you name it — is a Republican. This will strengthen our Republican majority on the court. And I think it's what's best for everyone in Tarrant County, not just Republicans." Support from conservative suburbs On Thursday, the mayors of Southlake, Keller, North Richland Hills, and Colleyville voiced support for redistricting. They argued that major counties like Dallas and Harris redrew maps after the 2020 census and said it was "political malfeasance" that Tarrant County did not do the same. A previous redistricting effort in 2021, led by a Republican-majority court, resulted in no changes to the precinct maps. Commissioner Alisa Simmons, who opposes the current proposal, said that process was thorough and legally sound. "Tarrant County fulfilled its duty to redistrict in 2021 following the 2020 Census," Simmons said in a statement. "A Texas-based law firm that specializes in redistricting guided the county through a detailed and deliberate process over months with extensive community involvement. Because the existing boundaries were well within the allowed deviation, complied fully with state and federal law, and fairly reflected both the political and racial makeup of our county, they were confirmed by a bipartisan vote." She added: "Any statement that Tarrant County did not fulfill its responsibility to redistrict in 2021 is blatantly false. Tim O'Hare knows this but, inexcusably, is coercing local leaders to repeat his lie." Critics have also raised concerns that the proposed changes are based on outdated data, as redistricting typically follows the decennial U.S. Census. The next census is scheduled for 2030. Legal, data questions raised The conservative law firm hired by the county, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, has not released the criteria or data used to draw the new maps. O'Hare said the firm is using a broad range of data beyond the 2020 census. "They're looking at all sorts of things," he said. "It's a very comprehensive look. The demographer, I think, is one of the top demographers in the country. The lawyers — this is what they do for a living." New maps added Friday The speed of the process has also drawn criticism. The vote is scheduled just nine weeks after the law firm was hired. "I think two months has been plenty of time," O'Hare said. "If you don't want it to change, I understand why you say that. But people have had plenty of opportunity to weigh in, look at it, become aware and participate. And we've had hundreds of people submit emails, comments, show up in person. I think the word is out." On Friday, the county added two new map options to the list of proposals under consideration.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Arlington City Council passes resolution opposing Tarrant County redistricting process
Arlington City Council passed a resolution Tuesday night opposing the Tarrant County redistricting plans, joining a growing list of elected leaders who are calling for commissioners to halt the process. "I don't want to become adversarial, but I'll stand up for the residents of my community any day of the week, and I'll continue to fight that battle," said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. The push to redraw the precinct boundary lines is being led by Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare, who brought in a conservative law firm in early April to draft five proposed maps. Redistricting typically follows the decennial U.S. Census, which last occurred in 2020. Republican commissioners have been open in public comments that their goal is to increase GOP representation on the court. Arlington's resolution urges the court to slow down the process to allow for more community input and legal analysis. "This is not an anti-redistricting," Ross said. "It's not anti-political parties. I certainly understand that the Supreme Court has said you can redistrict along party lines if that's what you choose to do, but in doing so, you're still obligated to adhere to the laws of the State of Texas and the federal Voting Rights Act." Ross said outside legal experts also have concerns about using the 2020 census numbers to redraw the precinct boundaries. "The problem is, you say Tarrant County has grown considerably, yet you use old data that was already evaluated by the previous commissioners court, who found there wasn't enough changes to warrant any redistricting five years ago," Ross said. "If Tarrant County has grown, and I believe it has, you need to redistrict according to what that new data is showing you." Ross and nine other Tarrant County mayors, including Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, signed a joint letter to commissioners laying out the potential issues they see with the plan. The court is set to vote on the proposal on June 3, nine weeks after voting to hire the law firm to come up with the new maps. "I've never seen a redistricting process move at this speed," said Ross. "You know, typically you're taking, minimum, 6 to 12 months to get things done. It's just not feasible to be able to do it and adhere to the guidelines." Ross plans to be at next week's meeting to voice his opposition to the process. CBS News Texas reached out to County Judge Tim O'Hare multiple times for comment on the criticism surrounding the redistricting process and has yet to receive a response. In an op-ed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Commissioner Manny Ramirez said, "Now is the time to act, while we can still ensure that Tarrant County's future is shaped by the conservative principles that have made it the greatest place in America."
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Tarrant County redistricting plan draws accusations of racial gerrymandering, legal concerns
A coalition of elected leaders is urging Tarrant County commissioners to halt a controversial redistricting process they believe is being rushed through without justification or transparency, and could violate federal law. Congressman Marc Veasey, joined by the county's two Democratic commissioners and several Fort Worth City Council members, called the effort "an illegal power grab" during a press conference held outside the Commissioners Court on Tuesday. "This isn't democracy," Veasey said. "It's a demolition job." The push to redraw the precinct boundary lines is being led by Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare, who brought in a conservative law firm in early April to draft five proposed maps. Redistricting typically follows the decennial U.S. Census, which last occurred in 2020. The next count is not scheduled until 2030. "We have no new census data. None," said Commissioner Alisa Simmons. "So you're redrawing the boundaries based on 2020 census data. It just doesn't make sense." Critics argue the proposed changes disproportionately impact communities of color by shifting Black and Hispanic populations out of Precinct 2, currently represented by a Democrat, and into Precinct 1, also held by a Democrat. Both precincts would see significant changes under the new maps. "Black and Hispanic populations have surged in Tarrant County, but instead of respecting that reality, O'Hare is trying to erase that reality," Veasey said. "This is intentional racial discrimination that's unfolding in real time." Fort Worth City Council member Elizabeth Beck echoed that sentiment, accusing O'Hare of trying to suppress minority voters. "What you see in this redistricting today is nothing more than Tim O'Hare's continued effort to silence the voices of those in Tarrant County who do not believe like him, to silence the voices specifically of Black and brown members of our community," Beck said. Republican commissioners have been open in public comments that their goal is to increase GOP representation on the court. A previous redistricting effort by a Republican-majority court following the 2020 census resulted in no changes to the precinct maps. Critics now question why a mid-decade redistricting is being pursued, especially with no new data, and accuse the court of undermining public trust. The law firm hired for the job has not answered questions about the criteria or data it used to come up with the new boundary lines. Ten Tarrant County mayors, including those representing Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prairie, have signed a letter urging commissioners to delay the vote. They warn that the proposed maps may violate non-discrimination standards under the U.S. Voting Rights Act and could be vulnerable to legal challenges. "Their courage and clarity reflect the growing chorus of voices speaking out for justice, fairness, and local representation," said Commissioner Roderick Miles, Jr. The Arlington City Council is expected to vote on a resolution Monday night calling for more public engagement and a more thorough analysis of the redistricting plans. The city councils in Fort Worth and Grand Prairie have already passed resolutions opposing the process. CBS News Texas reached out to Judge O'Hare's office for comment, but has not received a response. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is scheduled to vote on the redistricting proposal Tuesday, June 3.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Fort Worth City Council approves resolution opposing Tarrant County redistricting process
Tarrant County officials are moving forward with a controversial plan to redraw commissioners' precinct boundaries, despite growing opposition from residents and elected leaders. More than 100 people signed up to speak at Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting, with the vast majority opposing the redistricting proposal. CBS News Texas "This is not what public service should look like," one speaker said during public comment. "If the court believes redistricting is necessary and fair, then explain it. Engage us. Show your work." Redistricting sparks political tension County Judge Tim O'Hare initiated the redistricting process in early April. Commissioners voted to hire a conservative law firm to develop new maps. While redistricting typically follows the decennial U.S. Census, O'Hare and other Republicans argue that the county's rapid population growth requires earlier changes to preserve conservative leadership. Supporters of the plan were in the minority at Tuesday's meeting. "I'm asking you to vote in favor of redistricting. I prefer Map 1, but I'm supportive of at least one of the other maps. Again, please do not Dallas my Tarrant County," one resident said. Critics decry racial gerrymandering Earlier this month, five proposed maps were introduced to the court, each suggesting major alterations to Precincts 1 and 2, districts currently represented by Democratic commissioners. Critics argue the redistricting amounts to racial gerrymandering aimed at diluting minority voting power. "We cannot build stronger communities by cracking them apart or packing their voices into silence," Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. said. "What you have seen today is not a continuation of the responsible process that was done in 2021. It is a sharp break from it. From the outset, this new redistricting effort has been defined, not by community participation, but by speed, secrecy, and the prioritization of political outcomes over public trust." The law firm hired to draw the maps has not disclosed the criteria or data used to create the proposals, further fueling opposition. "You're elected to be accountable to all people in this county," one speaker told the court. "Stand with constituents. Stand for fairness, transparency, and real democracy. Shut down this redistricting proposal." Fort Worth, Arlington push back Opposition has extended beyond the Commissioners Court. The Fort Worth City Council passed a resolution Tuesday formally opposing the redistricting process. Last week, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross commissioned a report to investigate the legality of the proposal. Republican commissioners remained largely silent during Tuesday's meeting. Commissioner Matt Krause, however, asked a few questions to a staff member brought in by Commissioner Alisa Simmons. "Would it be right for me to say that the courts, the Supreme Court especially, has said partisan gerrymandering is fine? It's completely up to that body. Racial gerrymandering, very bad — but partisan gerrymandering, we're going to refer to that district," Krause said. June 3 vote looms large As the June 3 vote approaches, community members and officials are urging the court to reconsider. "The public overwhelmingly opposes this redistricting effort," one speaker said. "We've seen it in packed meetings, petition signatures, and voices rising across this county." Tarrant County has held three community meetings on the redistricting plans this month, with a fourth scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Gary Fickes Northeast Courthouse in Hurst.
