![]() Friday, August 10, 2001 |
Seabaugh worried about status of Ga. Senate redistricting map
By JOHN
MUNFORD
With a newly tweaked redistricting map set to be unveiled at press time late Thursday afternoon, State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh claims the process is being rushed. Seabaugh, a Republican who represents parts of Fayette, Coweta and Spalding counties, alleged that the changes were made so the Democrats could gain the few votes needed to pass the measure in the Senate. "They're trying to push this through as quick as possible so the public has no chance to participate," said Seabaugh, noting that a vote on the latest version of the map would likely occur today (Friday). Seabaugh noted that the first version of the map wasn't seen by some members of the senate reapportionment committee until Monday. The map was voted out of committee Tuesday despite the opposition of the four Republican members of the committee. That map redrew Fayette County's lines so it would become part of three different Senate districts. Peachtree City and Tyrone would be included in the 28th with most of Coweta County, while Brooks and Woolsey would be in the 17th with parts of Spalding, Henry, Newton, Rockdale and Walton counties. The 34th district would change little with a portion of north Fayette and western Clayton County. The rush put on the process was designed "to keep everybody from going home and listening to their constituents," Seabaugh said. The map should be designed with a goal of keeping counties whole, Seabaugh said.
|