DeQuincy City Council members are one step away from approving the city’s redistricting plan, which will take effect with the fall 2014 elections. (American Press)
DeQuincy nears decision on redistricting plan
Last Modified: Monday, June 18, 2012 5:57 PM
By Taylor Prejean / American Press
DeQuincy City Council members are one step away from approving the city’s redistricting plan, which will take effect with the fall 2014 elections.The changes are in response to the 2010 census results, which show a 4.8 percent decrease in the city’s population — a loss of about 160 people.
Mayor Lawrence Henagan said he believes the decrease is due to residents building houses just outside the city limits. Many of those residents still have DeQuincy addresses but don’t live in the incorporated area.
Attorney Cade Cole, who helped prepare the redistricting plan, said there were minor changes overall.
One of the more significant changes was to set La. 12 as the north and south boundary, bringing the district areas more in line with voting precincts at the request of Calcasieu Parish Registrar of Voters Angie Quienalty.
“DeQuincy has four precincts and four council districts, but they don’t always match one another,” Cole said. “We made them match where we could.”
Council District 1, represented by Mark Peloquin, and District 2, represented by Rhonda Jacobs, remained largely the same, Cole said.
Council member Andrea Coleman’s District 4 was reduced slightly, making council member Judy Landry’s District 3 somewhat larger.
Cole said the goal was to draw the boundaries so each district is within plus or minus 5 percent of the target number of residents. He said each district in this plan falls within the approved range.
Cole said the council will hold a third public hearing at its July meeting and will vote to approve or not approve the plan. Cole said the council seems to be on board with the plan and no residents have complained at past public hearings.
If the plan is approved in July, it will be submitted to the U.S. Justice Department for final approval.
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