Wednesday, June 6, 2001
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Wednesday, June 6, 2001 |
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Seabaugh wants to improve redistricting plans for senate By JOHN
MUNFORD
The process of redrawing Georgia's state Senate district lines will certainly shrink the area Mitch Seabaugh represents. Seabaugh said Friday that he stands to lose 35,000 constituents from District 28, which currently covers all of Coweta County, all of Peachtree City and part of Fayette County, south of Ga. Highway 54 all the way through Fayetteville south of McDonough Road. The area also includes a chunk of Spalding County. "I hate to lose anybody, but I've got to," said the Sharpsburg Republican, noting the possibility that some of his biggest supporters could end up in another district after the process is finalized. He also made clear he doesn't want to lose any of the Fayette portion of his district. The Senate committee on redistricting is scheduled to meet again June 15, Seabaugh noted. One of Seabaugh's largest concerns is making sure he represents a group of people with similar goals. "Keeping together people with a common interests, that's a real concern," Seabaugh said. To develop his position on redistricting, Seabaugh is seeking opinions from local voters. Part of that effort will be aided by a new office he and state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland are opening near the Thomas Crossroads area in Coweta. Other Fayette politicians also are beginning to communicate with Seabaugh about the process. The new districts are being drawn with a 10 percent deviation, although Seabaugh contends that with today's technology, that should be knocked down to 1 percent. That way, the state could come close to insuring certain areas aren't under-represented by having too large a population, he said. Seabaugh also noted that other changes in the area political climate are coming that could significantly affect the redistricting process. He pointed to the upcoming U.S. Congressional race as one such possible change. "Lots of things are going to go into the mix," he said. "It's going to be interesting."
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