Louisville Begins Redistricting

The Louisville Metro Council’s ad hoc committee on redistricting met on Monday.Committee members agreed there’s a lot of work to be done on redistricting if they want to meet their Sept. 8 goal. But so far no drafts have been made.“We’re all just doing this for the first time," said Councilman Jim King (D-10). "But I think communication is important and I think that getting that out there is going to be good. And I just feel like we just need to try move this forward at this point."The committee should begin by redrawing a few of Louisville’s districts and then taking them to the community for public comment, he said. Drafts of district maps are expected to be released for public comment in late August.“That’s going to be a challenge,” said Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12).“Because anytime you put something out there, then people get a perception of this is the way it’s going to be. And so we’re going to have to be very careful and very clear that when we’re putting out these maps that they are drafts and that they are proposals and there is still some flexibility,” he said.The committee is expected to have drafts of some districts at the next meeting on Aug. 8. Before then, district leaders will meet independently of the full committee.State law says any redistricting must be completed by the end of the year.