BY RITA COOK / News Editor
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WAXAHACHIE – Last week the Ellis County Commissioners voted on a redistricting map for the justice of the peace and constable precincts much like they had done the week before for the remapping of the commissioner’s new borders.
While it happens every 10 years, there is always much anticipation.
In some cases there is a chance a border for the commissioners might end up different than the JP/constable borders.
This year was no exception and that happened again.
Former precinct four resident Louis Ponder ended up in precinct three’s county commissioner map redistricting, but still remains in precinct four for the JP/constable mapping.
“Our JP’s and constables coordinated with one another separately from the citizen committee that worked on the commissioner precincts,” said Ellis County Judge Todd Little.
“They effectively compromised over the map outlines to best divide caseload work and population allocation.”
Commissioners decided in a 4-1 vote to adopt Plan A for the Justice Districts, which was the plan the JP’s and Constables originally presented.
“There were a few opponents to this plan, but I am proud that our citizens and committee members participated in a responsible, civil and open manner during this transparent process” Little added.
Commissioner Kyle Butler, pct. 4. said, “The JP and Constable redistricting map was determined by the JP and Constables.”
Butler and Lane Grayson, pct. 2, also mentioned a Map X that was voted down. Grayson said earlier this week he believed Map X will be discussed again for a variety of reasons.
The JP and Constable precincts are determined by caseloads, population, minority, among other decisions.
“Yes, it is confusing when you look at each Commissioners Precinct and then look at the same JP and Constable precincts, these districts have always overlapped in their jurisdiction into more than one Commissioners Precinct,” Butler concluded.
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