STAFF REPORTS
There will be more Hispanic representation in Kyle’s city voting districts, thanks to the work of the redistricting advisory committee and a recent council vote.
The map that council members approved last week now has to go to the U.S. Justice Department for approval. Of four maps that were considered, it was one of the better two for meeting Justice Department standards, City Attorney Frank Garza told the council.
Two of the redrawn districts, 2 and 6, are more than half Hispanic.
District 4 Councilman David Wilson will lose a section of Spring Branch that he previously represented, to District 6.
“No one wants to lose people who voted for you, who were your friends,” Wilson said. “Having said that, this is about fairness, this is about the future, and I applaud [the committee] for thinking of that future growth corridor.
Bob Barton, the chairman of the redistricting advisory committee and publisher of the Hays Free Press, said that a healthy number of citizens had spoken out about their preferences.
Mayor Lucy Johnson said, “I’m really happy with the public opinion which we got, which was fairly significant on this.”
And with the pending construction of a sewer line that would go all the way south to Yarrington Road, she said, “I think District 2 might be the biggest in 10 years.”
