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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

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