While the Plaquemines Parish Government has until May to adopt a new districting plan (and the school board until June) that complies with the 2020 census numbers, district 9 council member and council chairman Mark “Hobbo” Cognevich introduced a potential district plan during the February 11 meeting. This plan will be considered at the February 24 council meeting unless Cognevich defers it at that time.
The introduction of this district plan has some council members from Belle Chasse concerned (particularly district 2 council member Beau Black). Black has openly stated in the past that he and other council members are working on a new district plan that they believe would better suit the parish.
According to Cognevich, the plan he introduced is basically the same one that was prepared late last year by council attorney Dannie Garrett, working as a demographer with Strategic Demographics LLC, the company hired by the school board and PPG to handle redistricting.
“He fixed a few possible issues with it,” Cognevich stated, explaining that Garrett just made sure the boundaries of each district fall on a “landmark” allowed by redistricting regulations. “Other than that, though, it's pretty much the same.”
Redistricting “public forums” were hosted by PPG to allow residents to see a “draft” districting plan (essentially the same one that was introduced by Cognevich). However, these forums drew small crowds and few public comments were offered.
“There were barely any residents at the meeting, and I didn’t receive any emails or letters offering comments on them,” Cognevich stated. “So, I plan on moving forward with this plan at the next meeting.”
Time will tell if two competing plans currently being discussed will elicit additional interests from constituents.
The plan Cognevich introduced follows census guidelines requiring districts to stay within a five percent deviation above or below the ideal number of 2,561 residents per district. However, it shows Belle Chasse districts with counts higher than the ideal number and south Plaquemines districts with numbers below the ideal count.
Several Plaquemines Parish School Board members and Plaquemines Parish Council members crafted a different version which would swap this situation, drawing Belle Chasse districts with smaller than the ideal numbers. Historically, Belle Chasse districts have grown in population while southern districts have declined.
“Our plan is a fair one, and it prepares the districts for the anticipated population shift that has been happening for [at least] the past decade,” Black stated. “I’m worried that this is becoming a political issue when that’s not what redistricting should be about.”
“We’re trying to find a district plan that ensures every resident is properly represented. I think our plan deserves a round of public meetings and serious consideration as well,” he added.
Under the proposal introduced by Cognevich, districts that grew in population since 2010 (northern, west bank districts) were barely within the upper limit of the five percent margin of error while smaller districts that shrunk since the last census (southern districts) were barely within the lower limit of that margin of error. Specifically, districts 7 and 8 have barely enough population to be within compliance of redistricting regulations.
It should be noted that though the school board and parish council could draw different district lines, the consensus has been that this would be confusing for voters. So, the two governing bodies have attempted to work together and adopt the same district plan.
Councilman Black has been vocal about this issue as he represents district 2, the largest district by population according to 2020 census numbers. Black’s district has more than double the residents of District 1. This has caused Black to state his constituents have half the representation of a District 1 resident.
“This needs to be reversed [in order to make it] a one voice, one vote system,” Black stated.
Both plans keep two majority minority districts and have district 1 extending across the river into the west bank of Plaquemines (a move that is necessary in order to have the district remain within the five percent deviation required by redistricting regulations). The only major difference between the two plans is the size of the districts. If Cognevich follows through with his statement and has the council vote on his ordinance at the February 24 meeting, it is possible that his district plan would be adopted without any consideration being given to Black’s alternative.
“With certain situations, pushing an ordinance through happens and that’s fine. But that shouldn’t be how it’s done with redistricting,” Black stated. “This is going to affect us for 10 years. We need to consider all possibilities and pick the best plan for our constituents.”