News Editor

When the results of Census 2000 were released it became evident to the Pike County Commission that redistricting was not only a must, but also a requirement.

"The deviation was too great between the districts with the highest population and the districts with the lowest population," said Mark Tyner, Pike County administrator. "There can’t be more than a 10 percent difference between the districts and there was a 27.5 percent deviation."

The Pike County Commission met this week in Montgomery to begin working on a redistricting plan. South Central Alabama Development Commission presented to the commissioners several proposed redistricting maps.

"It was basically a breaking in session," Tyner said. "It gave the commissioners an opportunity to see what the maps looked like."

Tyner said redistricting is based on population. The results of the census indicated that Districts 4, 5, and 6 would change the most, affecting Commissioners Ray Goodson, Charlie Harris and Karen Berry. He said Districts 1, 2 and 3 wouldn’t see much change.

"People will be taken away from Goodson’s district and Berry’s district because they are the largest," Tyner said. "Smaller districts like Harris’ and Meeks’ will have people added."

The meeting in Montgomery was the initial meeting for the commissioners to begin making arrangements for redistricting. The commission will hold another redistricting meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Pike County Board of Education boardroom.

"We want to hurry up and get this behind us if we can," Tyner said.