County Commissioners rush to approve new redistricting map

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor 

HAYS COUNTY – On Tuesday, Nov. 9, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a new redistricting map for Hays County.

Using 2020 Census data, commissioners worked with the Redistricting Advisory Commission (RAC) to create a map that reflects the region’s overall growth and the increasing Hispanic population while still preserving existing political communities.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Census, completed every ten years, was late getting to the county commissioners and the Advisory Commission. Because of this, county commissioners rushed the redistricting process to meet the Nov. 13 deadline for Congressional Redistricting in Texas.

On Nov. 2, County Commissioners received a presentation of possible redistricting maps from the RAC. According to Hays County Commissioner Precinct 3 Lon Shell, “neither of the maps that came out of that commission were something that I would have been able to support, for the good of the county.”

Commissioner Shell decided to work on some maps himself and make improvements, which the commissioner’s court ultimately adopted. One of the changes he made to the maps proposed by the Advisory Commission was consolidating San Marcos, Kyle and other communities of interest within precinct lines and not split between more than two commissioners.  

“I wish that it wasn’t done in such an expedited way,” Shell said. “But, you know, in the end, I had to do what I felt was best for this county as a whole. And I thought some improvements could be made to those maps, and in the end, I’m pleased with how they turned out.”

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra voted against the adopted map and said in a tweet it was a “low point on our work process in our court.”

Here is our new map. Buzzwords can be used to describe it. It’s a low point on our work process as a court. pic.twitter.com/T1CujjTPey

— Judge Ruben Becerra (@rubenbecerrasr) November 9, 2021

Hays County Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1, said she isn’t sure if the court could have produced a better redistricting map if given more time but voted against the adopted map. The most disappointing part of the process for the commissioner was not being able to have an open and transparent redistricting process like they intended.

“I just wish that we had more time; we would have had more time to put it out to the public and to really analyze it much better than we did in court,” said Ingalsbe. “And so to me, it was rushed. I mean, I understand, you know that we were in a time crunch. However, it was just unfortunate that it happened that way.”

Ingalsbe said she was concerned with the low 2020 census numbers reported across the county, especially in her Precinct.

The RAC presented map M9 to the county commissioners, which Ingalsbe thought had a better representation of the growing Hispanic population.

According to Ingalsbe, Precinct 1 has changed in the new map by covering the east side of I-35 and to the Travis County line. Precinct 1 has also seen an increase in population, which wasn’t surprising to the commissioner due to the rapid grown in the central Texas area.

Hays County Commissioner Precinct 4 Walt Smith supported the map produced by Shell, even though it decreased the number of people he represents in the county.

“The drastic increase in population in the county and the statutory requirements of the redistricting process dictated the boundaries of my precinct had to change,” Smith said. “I choose to vote for the map which kept the majority of my Precinct intact. While I haven’t represented the Buda/ Mountain City area in the past, I am familiar with many of its needs as well as its people and their ongoing projects, and look forward to representing its residents to the best of my abilities.”

Ultimately, the proposed map was adopted by county commissioners with a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Smith, Shell and Mark Jones voted to approve the map, while Judge Ruben Becerra and Commissioner Ingalsbe voted against it.

Related Articles:

• Redistricting Advisory Commission propose maps of Commissioner’s Precincts within Hays County