Jurisdictional statement - About Redistricting - Loyola Law School
Jurisdictional statement - About Redistricting - Loyola Law School
Jurisdictional statement - About Redistricting - Loyola Law School
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45a<br />
8. A couple of weeks later, I was approached<br />
by Rep. Alan Clemmons (R-Horry), Chairman<br />
of the Election <strong>Law</strong> Subcommittee, in the<br />
Statehouse lobby. He said, “Hey Mia, we’re<br />
working to get your BVAP (black voting age<br />
population) up in your District, but we’ve got<br />
to tweak it some more to get it just right.” I<br />
was stunned because I had neither asked him<br />
to do that, nor had I ever spoken with Rep.<br />
Clemmons prior to that about my district or<br />
proposed map. I responded, “Thanks Alan, but<br />
I don’t want y’all to do that. Why would you<br />
think that I do?” He looked puzzled, but smiled<br />
and said, “I thought that’s what you wanted.” I<br />
replied, “No, I don’t.”<br />
9. During the next legislative day, I walked over<br />
to Chairman Harrison’s desk to talk with him<br />
about my conversation with Rep. Clemmons. I<br />
told Chairman Harrison that I appreciated the<br />
diversity of my District and did not want to<br />
artificially increase my BVAP. His response<br />
was that he might not have a choice because<br />
“the lawyers” were advising him that was<br />
probably what they were going to have to do.<br />
When I asked who “the lawyers” were, he<br />
would not give me a clear answer. He just kept<br />
saying that “the lawyers” were advising that<br />
this might “have to happen.” I assumed he was<br />
referencing Patrick Dennis and other House<br />
legal staff, but I never was able to get a clear<br />
answer about which lawyers were giving this<br />
advice.<br />
10. It was not until the final House Judiciary Committee<br />
meeting on June 6, 2011, that Rep.<br />
Clemmons’ prediction came to fruition. I was