AFS Cinema
Result More In Keeping With Demographic Reality
RECEIVED Tue., July 31, 2012
Dear Editor,
In discussing the 10-1 districting plan, Michael King ["Point Austin: The Usual Suspects," News, July 27] raises the question of “how one African-American representative among 10 is an improvement over one among seven.” The answer is that under the 10-1 system African-Americans could choose their own representative, as opposed to the overwhelming white voter majority choosing the African-American representative, as happens under the current system. Also the 10-1 system could yield a result much more in keeping with the demographic reality of Austin. The 2010 census found that only 8.2% of Austinites were African-American. If only one of the 10 representatives selected were African-American, that group would still be overrepresented. More significantly, it would permit breaking the current logjam where Hispanic representation is stuck at one of seven (14%) while the Hispanic population is 35.1%.
In discussing the 10-1 districting plan, Michael King ["Point Austin: The Usual Suspects," News, July 27] raises the question of “how one African-American representative among 10 is an improvement over one among seven.” The answer is that under the 10-1 system African-Americans could choose their own representative, as opposed to the overwhelming white voter majority choosing the African-American representative, as happens under the current system. Also the 10-1 system could yield a result much more in keeping with the demographic reality of Austin. The 2010 census found that only 8.2% of Austinites were African-American. If only one of the 10 representatives selected were African-American, that group would still be overrepresented. More significantly, it would permit breaking the current logjam where Hispanic representation is stuck at one of seven (14%) while the Hispanic population is 35.1%.
Philip Russell
[Michael King responds: Philip Russell misconstrues both the current situation for minority representation and what might replace it under 10-1. Current minority representatives, while elected at-large, enjoyed strong majority support in heavily minority boxes (e.g., Sheryl Cole easily won traditionally African-American Eastside boxes). The 10-1 plan promises only one African-American “opportunity” (plurality) district; it would take at least 14 districts to establish an African-American majority district. That means that under 10-1, an African-American candidate still cannot win without coalition (crossover) voting, no different than the current situation. (The same is true of 8-2-1, so on that score, it's essentially a wash between the two plans.) As I wrote, it's true that geographic districts might mean stronger Hispanic representation, while other minority residents (e.g., Asian-Americans) object that the 10-1 plan disadvantages minority voters who are not geographically concentrated. (Moreover, the issue is voters' choices, not the color or ethnicity of the people on the dais.) That leaves us where 10-1 started – supporting more districts, but not explaining how that represents a net gain for African-American representation. Indeed, one argument in favor of a mixed system is that it should be less ethnically divisive than purely geographic districts.]