Making sure 10-1 is representative

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Dozens of Austin residents participated in a forum on how to make sure the new 10-1 City Council redistricting plan will represent the City's residents. 

As required by Proposition 3 (10-1 plan), which was passed by Austin voters on Nov. 6 , the City Auditor has initiated a process to secure qualified applicants for the Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is responsible for determining the boundaries of future Council districts, and the Applicant Review Panel, which is responsible for selecting a pool of 60 qualified Commission applicants. 

The City of Austin will be first city in Texas to have an independent commission drawing the district lines.

Jessica Ellison spent countless hours working with Austinites for Geographic Representation to get Prop. 3 on the ballot but now that it's passed, the work still isn't finished.

"One of the most important thing that's going to come out of the independent commission for district lines drawing is voters, not politicians, will choose," said Ellison. "Voters will choose their politicians, rather than the politicians choosing their voters."

While the redistricting will take months to finalize, Ellison is excited about the changes that are coming to Austin.

"Through the implementation of Prop. 3 we will end the gentleman's agreement, we will bring true representation to people in the City that have never had it before and it's a very exciting thing to be an Austinite right now," said Ellison.

The forum was aimed at providing the public an opportunity to provide input on the best ways to encourage participation in Austin's first redistricting process and how to secure a large pool of qualified applicants that reflect Austin's diversity.

Even residents who don't live in Austin's city limits wanted to make sure their voices were heard.

"We haven't had anything addressed in our area, we're the red-headed stepchild," lamented Richard Franklin, an east Travis County resident. "We live on the outskirts of the City and we're hoping that somebody who lives in the eastern part of Travis, eastern part of Austin, someone who will actually care about what happens because as Austin grows it will grow into our area, so we need to make sure that those people understand that growth process."

Participants were able to brainstorm with each other in breakout sessions.

The newly formed Commission's main objective will be to slice up the City that is representative of the ever-changing demographics and geography. 

If you would like to voice your opinion, you can send an email to: oca_auditor@austintexas.gov or by mail or hand-delivery at the following address:

Office of the City Auditor
301 W. 2nd Street, Suite 2130
Austin, TX  78701

More information can be found at www.austintexas.gov/10-one.