By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
In a 3-3 vote, an ordinance regarding redistricting failed to pass for the City of Prattville Tuesday night during the regular council meeting.
Prattville City Planner Scott Stephens confirmed that the council was voting on the Alternate Plan 3 map, which can be found on the City’s redistricting website, https://prattvilleal.gov/redistricting-2024/
Municipal redistricting occurs after each Census. Local officials are required to redraw the geographic boundaries of their districts, from which people elect the City Council, to account for population and demographic shifts since the previous census.
The Council will now begin new discussions regarding a plan.
Voting in favor of the most recent redistricting plan were Council President Laura Lee Boone District 7, Councilman John Chambers District 3, and Councilman Tommy Merrick District 4.
Voting against were Councilman Marcus Jackson District 2, Councilman Michael Whaley District 5 and Councilman Robert Strichik District 6.
In discussion prior to the vote Councilman Whaley was the only council member to speak.
Whaley said he understands the necessity and importance of the redistricting process.
“I know a lot of time and effort went into developing what we have before us. I do have some concern with the way that we followed this process. I have questions as to how closely we followed the guidelines that we adopted for the process. I have some concern of the lack of response to the opposition that Councilman Striplin expressed to the council,” Whaley said
In an email to the council members prior to his death, Striplin stated he was opposed to the suggested changes to the downtown area.
“I want to know if there was a concerted effort to discuss this with him and any opportunity to work through the issue,” Whaley said. “I have asked several times if there was an effort to see that his opposition could be addressed. I have spoken with Mr. Stephens and also Mr. Willingham, both who stated they have not talked with Councilman Striplin concerning his opposition to the change. I have asked the Council through email if there was anything I missed during the work session on July 30. I took exception to two blocks of Sheila Boulevard on one side of the street being in a different district.”
Whaley said the reasoning given to him for this was “that is how the Census block was drawn.”
He went on to say that Councilman Strichik had several concerns with how District 6 was presented, and the answer again was “that is how the Census blocks are drawn.”
Whaley said he personally has a hard time believing that the Census block was the cause of the downtown area being removed from Councilman Striplin’s district.
“Albert Striplin is someone that spent most of his adult life on West Main Street,” Whaley said.
He continued saying that Striplin was involved professionally and personally and on a volunteer basis with the downtown and was very involved with everything that happened in downtown Prattville. Albert Striplin stated in opposition to the change and I don’t know that we fully investigated if there was anything that could be done to meet or take care of his opposition.”
There was no further discussion, and the ordinance failed with the 3-3 vote and a round of applause from some in the audience.
Prior to the vote on the ordinance, in the public comment section at the beginning of the meeting, there was more opposition to the redistricting from Prattville resident Rev. Ell White.
Saying he understands the council must vote on the issue of redistricting, White feels they are ignoring a big portion of the law.
“According to the Civil Rights act of 1965 that you have to have a majority minority district,” White said. “Currently what y’all have, on one of your maps, you do not have a majority minority district.”
White further referred to an earlier meeting where Council President Lora Lee Boone said that prior to his death, former Council Member for District 1 had told her he was in favor of the redistricting lines.
An email sent out to council members by Striplin, indicated he was not in favor of proposed changes to his district lines.
“We need to be transparent. We need a majority minority district according to the law,” White said. “We know what it says. You have done your research. We have done our research. Please, just do what is right for the people.”
In closing public comments after the vote, Rev. Patrick Lucas Sr. addressed the council.
“A lot has been said. In honoring Mr. Albert Striplin, we had a conversation right there at Kimberlias,” he said. Lucas said he asked Albert Striplin what was on his mind. “He said ‘I’m concerned about my city. Because it seems like whether it is legal or illegal they are going to do whatever they want to do.’ This is what he told me.”
Lucas then addressed Council President Boone. “You said ‘I spoke to Albert twice.’ And you said, ‘he has no problem with me splitting the blocks between districts 1 and 7.”
Lucas continued, “Then Albert Striplin sent an email that said he did not agree with what was said or what was voted on. Nobody has questioned that. None of you guys. Mr. Whaley said, ‘I waited for a response.’ Nobody has questioned that.”
The council will renew discussions to come up with a new plan.
In a meeting Aug. 20, the council heard from Autauga Probate Judge Kim Kervin.
At that time, she said the sooner the plan gets to her office the better.
Once the council has a successful ordinance for redistricting, her office will take over and begin their process of verifying addresses.
To view the entire meeting from Tuesday, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRWV6PwkZRo
