Agriculture interests fear losing clout in redistricting

From staff reports and Associated Press

August 14, 2003 -- While the battle over efforts to redraw Texas' federal congressional districts may be headed to the courtroom, Texas farmers and ranchers say they are unhappy about the whole process.

Rolling Plains farmer Robert Turner says he and other farmers are unhappy about how state Republicans are ''messing things up out here'' by pushing a redistricting plan that could diminish the clout for agriculture in Congress.

''You just don't find anybody who's interested in this redistricting,'' said Turner, a 43-year-old Democrat who grows cotton, peanuts and wheat on 1,500 acres in Haskell County. ''I just feel like we'll not get the representation out in the rural communities if that were to change.''

In East Texas, farmers, ranchers, and other rural residents gathered in Texarkana at an Aug. 7 meeting hosted by Congressman Max Sandlin who feels there is no redistricting plan, at this time, that protects rural Texas.

"This is a Republican partisian attempt in Washington to explode and destroy all rural Texas," he said.

"I think you will see a great uniting of teachers, farmers, small business owners, and others that will take a stand and reclaim the office away from the partisian governor. ... Texas is a rural state and agriculture is the backbone of our economy. If he (Perry) destroys rural representation, then he destroys the budget and the working relationships of the House and Senate.

"I think Perry ... and others will face the wrath of the voters in the next election," the congressman opined.

Several meetings have been held in the state to discuss the hotly-debated issue. "Over 90 percent of people who attend meetings across the state oppose redistricting," Sandlin added.

Speaking to an agriculture group in Lubbock on Aug. 7, longtime U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm said, "Rural areas feel put upon. They are very sensitive now because the legislative redistricting really, really stuck it to rural Texas and they are sensitive to that, and then they said, 'Now you are going to do it again.'''

Stenholm represents the 17th Congressional District, which includes Abilene, and is the ranking Democrat on the agriculture committee.

Shawn Wade, spokesman for the Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers Inc. that covers 25 West Texas counties, said the group's board of directors voted to oppose redistricting and has let state leaders know it.

''Mr. Stenholm is basically in a Republican district, but he's still winning because the people are voting for him and he's done a good job for that district,'' he said. ''It's obviously a positive that he can address the issues that are most important to this area.''

State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, said redistricting in West Texas isn't about Stenholm's seat but about protecting communities of interest.

J.W. ''Dub'' Vinson of Abilene, a farmer for 35 years, said his opposition to redistricting isn't about parties, since the region is predominantly Republican.

''Charlie (Stenholm) has done us a super job for agriculture,'' he said. ''So I'd like it to stay that way.''