Democrats controlled the N.C. Legislature for 140 years. Less than two years after Republicans took control of the North Carolina General Assembly, they skillfully managed to get a constitutional amendment passed, voiding all civil unions as well as guaranteeing [that] gay men and women in North Carolina have no equal protection under the law and […]
Tag: redistricting
Showing 22-42 of 57 results
Coloring inside the lines: Redistricting complicates election preparations
Last year’s statewide redistricting pulled voting districts into unfamiliar shapes and posed challenges to local officials.
North Carolina earns a C- on corruption risk report card
According to a study released by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity, North Carolina gets a C- on its corruption risk report card and failed in three areas: public access to information, state budgeting processes and redistricting. The report cards are a part of the State Integrity Investigation project. (Image courtesy of the State Integrity Investigation project)
New voting districts dramatically impact WNC
At a Feb. 22 forum hosted by the Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters, Dr. George Peery sought to contextualize new Western North Carolina political districts that have “spawned shocked incredulity, smug sentiments of justifiable payback, outrage, support, and baffled indifference,” he said.
Buncombe County creates webpage to help voters find their district
If you’re not sure which voting district you belong to anymore, chances are you’re not alone. But a new online webpage (released by Buncombe County GIS and the Office of Election Services) hopes to help voters find the information they need to get to the polls.
Battery of activists and legislators vie for redistricting reform
State legislators and activists came together in a Biltmore Forest home last night, Dec. 8, to build support for redistricting reform in North Carolina.
WNC legislators recognized for their work on redistricting reform
Today, Dec. 8, at local bookstore Malaprops, Jane Pinsky (left) of the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform recognized Rep. Ray Rapp (center right) and several other Western North Carolina legislators who support redistricting reform. (photo by Max Cooper)
My kind of representative
Rep. Patrick McHenry made his first “public” appearance in Asheville with a talk before the Council of Independent Business Owners [“The Beat,” Nov. 16 Xpress]. McHenry is following the sinister Republican game plan: stay away from announced, truly open-to-the-public events, where he would face the anger and criticism that he deserves. The GOP’s unapologetic, pro-wealth, […]
NRCC targets Rep. Heath Shuler, charging Democrat “negligence” in failed deficit reduction deal
An email sent out by the National Republican Congressional Committee targets 11th District Rep. Heath Shuler, blaming the Haywood County Democrat for what seems to be the impending failure of the bipartisian “Super Committee” to endorse a plan to cut the deficit. Although Shuler wasn’t on the committee, the national effort could be the opening salvo in its effort to soften his support and unseat him next year.
Patsy Keever: I’ll run for Congress in the 10th District if redistricting maps hold
Statehouse Rep. Patsy Keever confirmed today, Nov. 18, via a message on her Facebook page, that she’s planning to run for Congress in the 10th District if the redistricting maps proposed by the General Assembly become law ahead of the February 2012 filing deadline. If so, she would face Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy in the Democratic primary.
Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy announces run for Congress
Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy announced today, Nov. 15, that she’s running for Congress in the 10th District, which the North Carolina General Assembly redrew earlier this year to include most of the city.
Rep. McHenry slams federal regulations, praises Asheville’s “unique cultural identity”
Rep. Patrick McHenry held his first public event in Asheville since the General Assembly redrew congressional districts to put most of the city in his 10th District, introducing himself to the Council of Independent Business Owners at the group’s Nov. 10 luncheon.
Controversial GOP–drawn districts become law
The first Republican-controlled General Assembly in 140 years ratified controversial voter districts July 28 that split Asheville and Buncombe County in ways that are likely to benefit GOP candidates.
North Carolina Democratic legislators release proposed redistricting maps
Dubbing the maps a “fair and legal” alternative to those proposed by the ruling Republican Party, Democrats in the General Assembly have released their own proposals for redrawing congressional and state senate districts. The plan would keep Asheville in the 11th congressional district, instead of dividing it with the 10th.
Local Matters: Redistricting, hate crimes and Juan Holladay arrest
In this edition of Local Matters—the Xpress weekly news podcast—reporters Jake Frankel and Christopher George discuss the growing controversy over the redistricting of WNC, the possible hate-crime assault on Luke Hankins and the arrest of local musician Juan Holladay.
Video: Take a tour of Asheville’s newly proposed Congressional Districts
Take a tour of the controversial proposed dividing line between North Carolina’s 10th and 11th Congressional Districts with Xpress reporters Jake Frankel and David Forbes. The proposed line would divide Asheville, placing most of the city in the 10th District (currently represented by Republican Patrick McHenry of Hickory), while leaving some portions in Democrat Heath Shuler’s 11th District.
Keep Buncombe County together
The proposed legislative redistricting plan for the state of North Carolina would split Buncombe County into two parts: the eastern segment (including the city of Asheville) would join the 10th District while the western part of the county would remain in the 11th District with the other mountain counties. Splitting the Buncombe County electorate would […]
Latest congressional district maps strip more of Buncombe from the 11th
The latest congressional district proposal from the General Assembly strips more of Buncombe County from its longtime home in the 11th – currently represented by Democrat Heath Shuler — and puts it in the 10th – currently represented by Republican Patrick McHenry.
Residents slam House redistricting proposal
About 20 Western North Carolina residents shared their views on the N.C. General Assembly’s House and Senate redistricting proposals at a July 18 public hearing at A-B Tech. The vast majority of them lambasted the House proposal as GOP gerrymandering designed to give Republicans an electoral edge at the expense of Democratic candidates and voters. Here’s a sampling of the people who came out and their views.
Photo by Jonathan Welch
Live Twitter-based coverage of redistricting public hearing
The General Assembly’s Joint House and Senate Redistricting Committee is holding a public hearing on its House and Senate redistricting proposals today, July 18, at A-B Tech between 3 and 9 p.m.
Fisher, Keever urge supporters to speak out against redistricting plan at July 18 hearing
In response to proposed Statehouse districts released July 13 that place Democratic Reps. Susan Fisher and Patsy Keever in the same district, both are urging supporters to speak out against the plan at a July 18 public hearing at A-B Tech. If passed, the plan would potentially pit the two colleagues against each other in a primary next year to represent a newly drawn 114th that encapsulates most of Asheville.