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fVIC°v <br />KNOX W. ASKINS <br />JOHN D. ARMSTRONG <br />CHARLES R. HUBER, JR. <br />BOARD CERTIFIED -CIVIL TRIAL LAW <br />T EJ(AS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION <br />CLARK T. ASKING <br />August 8, 2001 <br />Honorable Mayor Norman Malone <br />And Members of the City Council <br />City of La Porte <br />TELEPHONE 281 471-1888 <br />TELECOPIER 281 471-2047 <br />E-MAIL: kwaskins(rDaol.com <br />john-a@swbell.net <br />crhuber@swbell net <br />ct-askins~lswbeN. net <br />RE: Ordinance Determining the Population of the City of La Porte On the Basis <br />of the Year 2000 Census; Determining that Existing City Council Single <br />Member Districts are Materially Unbalanced; Directing the Redistricting <br />Committee to Draw New City Council Single Member District Boundaries; <br />and Establishing Criteria for the Redistricting Committee to Utilize <br />Dear Mayor Malone and Council: <br />The City Attorney's office has determined that it would be wise to establish a set <br />of criteria for the Redistricting Committee to follow as it completes the task you charged <br />it with, i.e. the redrawing of City Council Single Member District lines within the City of La <br />Porte. Our determination is based upon material changes in the law as effects the <br />redistricting process, since the last redistricting process occurred in 1991-92. <br />Our office has prepared an ordinance for your consideration that we believe <br />accurately directs the redistricting committee in accordance with the law as it exists <br />today, taking into account mandates of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (as amended) as <br />well as up-to-date existing United States Supreme Court decisions, and regulations <br />promulgated by the Department of Justice. <br />The ordinance, in our estimation, follows the law as currently stated in <br />recognizing the tension between the Shaw v. Reno (one man, one vote principle) line of <br />cases, and the mandates of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended. <br /> <br />ASKINS & ARMSTRONG, P.C. <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br />702 W. FAIRMONT PARKWAY <br />P. O BOX 1218 <br />LA PORTE. TEXAS 77572-1218 <br />Passage of the ordinance as presented will give the Redistricting Committee <br />invaluable assistance and direction as they complete their task. <br />