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May 11, 2011

Redistricting hits Stephens County

David Laughlin The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Stephens County is poised to expand its delegation to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, pending the approval of House Bill 2145 for redistricting.

The districts currently held by Dennis Johnson (R-50) and Corey Holland (R-51) will remain in Stephens County. Added to Stephens County’s congressional delegation will be a portion of the district  held by Rep. Joe Dorman (D-65).

Johnson’s district more than doubled in size. Currently, Johnson’s district included Duncan and stretched west to Temple. Under HB 2145, however, Johnson’s district will stretch all the way to the Red River to include all of Jefferson County.

“I’m OK with it,” said Johnson. “I don’t think everyone got exactly what they wanted. I am really looking forward to representing the folks of Jefferson County. Representative Corey Holland had nothing but good things to say about them.”

The goal of the redistricting committee, Johnson said, was to draw up plans to maintain equal representation for each representative. The goal population was about 37,000, Johnson said.

“The House (of Representatives) has done a really nice job of straightening out some of those things that perhaps may have been politicized in the past,” said Johnson. “I don’t think there was much of that at all in our area.”

Similar to Johnson’s redistricting, Dorman’s proposed district stretches to Texas. Dorman’s current district stretches east and west of Rush Springs. The proposed district, however, jogs west to include Elgin, Fletcher, Apache and Richards Spur and Central High. It follows the Comanche and Stephens county lines south to the Cotton and Jefferson County lines, until it meets the Red River.

Some communities in Dorman’s proposed district will include, Cookietown, Randlett, Walters and Temple.

“I will take in about 10,000 new people, which is about a third of my district,” Dorman said. “I have the most proposed changed to an incumbent that has the opportunity to return. I am disappointed that I am losing some areas and part of my home county, but I am also taking in some wonderful, great people.

As for representing a portion of Stephens County, Dorman is excited about the prospect.

“I am really looking forward to the opportunity of getting to know a lot more people,” Dorman said.

Holland’s current district resembles the letter “J.” Holland’s districts begins in Grady County, proceeds down the eastern half of Stephens County, encompasses Jefferson County to the Red River and west to Cotton County. The proposed district, however, includes Holland’s hometown of Marlow, Velma and stretches north to Middleberg, Ninnekah, Agawam and Tabler. It stays south of the Interstate 44 corridor.

“I really hate to lose the territory I lost,” said Holland. “I’ve forged some really good relationships down in Jefferson and Cotton counties. But I understand the reasoning behind it.”

The once-a-decade affair looks to correct one of the state’s most apparent gerrymandering attempts, Holland said.

“My district was one of the worst examples of gerrymandering,” said Holland.

“I knew it would be hard to keep what I had. I knew it would change,” Holland said. “It’s not ideal, but you have to make adjustments.”

Though the district Holland represents is poised to change, having the ability to representing all of Marlow’s school district is a welcome change, Holland said.

“For the longest time it’s been confusing on who covers what part of Marlow,” said Holland. “Now I represent Marlow and Dennis (Johnson) represents Comanche and so on. It should clear a lot of those things up.”

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