Marshall County Leaders Oppose New District Lines

Monday the Marshall County Commission unanimously passed a resolution expressing their opposition to proposed new House district lines.  The proposal, being debated this week in Montgomery, would split the county into five districts.   Currently there are only two.

“Right now we have two house members who’s sole focus is on Marshall County,” District Attorney Steve Marshall tells us.   Marshall is also opposed to the proposed plan.   “When you divide the county up into five separate house districts that dilutes not only the focus and attention on Marshall County issues but also the influence that those individuals will have.”

As you can see from the proposed map,  it would carve out tiny slices of the county, separating the voters there from the rest of the county.    The smallest sliver, House District 9, would chop out an area north of Arab along U.S. Highway 231.

House District 11 would take two different slices, separated from each other.   It would take a tiny section near Hulaco.   It would also include a larger section going up from the southwest toward Albertville.

“I think the division of Guntersville.  The division of Arab and Brindlee Mountain, is of significant concern to lots of people,” Marshall said.

State law requires that every district in the state, both House and Senate districts, have roughly the same number of people.   Because Marshall County’s population has grown during the past ten years, two districts will no longer suffice no matter what happens.    The county will have to have at least three districts.