Redistricting can be an ugly process, with politicians jockeying for influence, carving up voting blocs and fighting to preserve their own jobs. The city of Kyle is hoping to sidestep those pitfalls as it redraws its own boundary lines for its three City Council districts this fall.
An advisory committee of seven Kyle residents met Thursday in the process of choosing a new district map to reflect Kyle’s growth over the past decade. The population has exploded in some parts of town but lagged in others, leading to “lopsided” districts, according to Mayor Lucy Johnson.
“Obviously there has been a lot of other redistricting, both in the county and the state, that have people drawing their own districts sometimes for their own benefit,” Johnson said. “It was imperative to make sure, at least in Kyle, that we draw them fairly, and that they are drawn by citizens and not the council.”
The committee’s final map would still require council approval.
Kyle’s City Council is made up of the mayor, three members who are elected at-large and three members who are elected by district. According to federal law, the three council member districts must be fairly evenly matched by population, and the districts are also required to closely conform to the racial mix of the entire town.
In Kyle, that means each of the three districts must comprise about 9,340 people, give or take 10 percent. The racial makeup of Kyle is about 46 percent Hispanic, 45 percent white and 5 percent black.
People who wish to voice their opinions about Kyle’s new voting districts will have their chance when the redistricting committee holds its second public hearing Thursday. The public hearing will be at 7 p.m. at Kyle City Hall.
At the first hearing two weeks ago, about half a dozen residents spoke. The majority of the speakers were from the Hometown Kyle subdivision, where there had been strong opposition last month to the decision by the Hays County Commissioners Court to move the subdivision into the Dripping Springs-dominated district as part of county redistricting.
Bob Barton, the committee chairman and publisher of the Hays Free Press, said a majority of the committee members had indicated they were committed to keeping the Hometown Kyle area in the city’s District 4, which is represented by Mayor Pro Tem David Wilson.
Public hearing for Kyle redistricting
What:The city of Kyle’s redistricting advisory committee is seeking public
comment as it redraws the boundary lines for three City Council districts.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15
Where: Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center St.
