Members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council were informed this week by demographers hired to redraw council districts in accordance with 2010 census figures that the redistricting plan adopted by the council last week wouldn’t allow for a five-member Lafayette Public Utilities Authority — the five-member council-within-the-council comprising councilmen whose districts are at least 60 percent within the city of Lafayette (Lafayette Utilities System is a city-owned, public utility) — because the demographers were off in their estimation of the number of city residents within traditional LPUA member District 7, currently occupied by Councilman Don Bertrand. A four-member LPUA could lead to 2-2 gridlocked votes on matters pertaining to LUS.
Consequently, when the final vote on the redistricting plan is held Tuesday, April 26, the council will vote on what’s being referred to as Plan 5A — an amended version of Plan 5 approved in the introductory vote last week by the council. Plan 5A moves some voting precincts within the city of Lafayette from District 9 to District 7 and will push District 7 over the 60 percent level for city of Lafayette representation. District 9 is not an LPUA seat. However, a source tells The Ind that District 9 Councilman William Theriot, who nitpicked over precincts during the redistricting process, is not pleased with the adjusted plan.
Council Chairman held a press conference Thursday afternoon to inform the public of the alterations.
... written by ragin_cajun , April 21, 2011 - 10:44 pm
" nitpicked "
Interesting choice of words, Walter. I'm sure less biased commentators might say Theriot is defending himself against an attempt to gerrymander him out of office.
What would be FUNNY is if the precincts that move to District 7 were so heavily "parish" or "country" as you would probably put it, or "fiscally Conservative", that they voted Bertrand out of office....:) Now THAT would be funny.
... written by RCajunrunner , April 22, 2011 - 01:04 pm
And now it really starts. The Lafayette "Independent" is going to be doing the bidding of Durel/Bertrand all election season long to promote Mr. Campbell and try to defeat William Theriot. We all knew it was coming, though. The Leftists don't like Councilman Theriot, because he is a real, practicing fiscal conservative.
"Nitpicked"?
Maybe it's that residents of that CITY neighborhood don't want Don Bertrand as their councilman. They are very happy with William Theriot and support him. They showed up at the re-districting meeting last week to testify that they wanted to stay in Theriot's district.
... written by pricinct 91 , April 22, 2011 - 01:20 pm
Bertrand was sure to take precinct 91 out of his district because he never represented these voters well. Put them back in the district. It is all in the city limits and will vote 90% against Bertrand.
... written by ragin_cajun , April 22, 2011 - 06:13 pm
Has anyone heard if anyone is planning to run against Bertrand, yet. I'm itching to get to work on my political project for this year...:)
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Interesting choice of words, Walter. I'm sure less biased commentators might say Theriot is defending himself against an attempt to gerrymander him out of office.
What would be FUNNY is if the precincts that move to District 7 were so heavily "parish" or "country" as you would probably put it, or "fiscally Conservative", that they voted Bertrand out of office....:) Now THAT would be funny.