Gulfport City Council holds redistricting workshop

As the City of Gulfport continues to grow, the time has come to redraw the ward lines which could impact residents for the next ten years.

The City of Gulfport has grown tremendously and now about 40 percent of Gulfport’s 72,000 residents live north of Interstate 10. Gulfport City Council held an open redistricting workshop to discuss the plans with Urban Planning Consultant Chris Watson. “This is all about rebalancing people in conjunction with political concerns or aspirations and we saw some of those aspirations exhibited here today. So, this is just a normal part of the process.”

The 2020 census indicated that the city’s population is now about 40 percent black, an increase from ten years ago. Three plans were presented to redistrict the seven districts. Plan one would protect every incumbent, plan two would bring 40 percent of the black voting age population, and plan three would add to the black vote age population and also gives the Orange Grove community more input during voting. Ward 6 Councilman R. Lee Flowers said, “We have grown and we would like to have more representation on the council. So, whether that means someone lives up in Orange Grove or their vested interests in that ward depends on Orange Grove, more importantly, that’s what we want to see.”

While many of the council members were partially satisfied with the plans presented, Councilwoman Ella Holmes Hines and Councilman Kenneth ‘Truck’ Casey were not satisfied, especially with plan three with Holmes stating that she wanted more than 40 percent. “What I asked of Chris Watson was a third majority minority ward with a greater 40 percent. I’m hearing that’s not what I asked, but I have the picture and the date stamped.”

After being unsatisfied with all three plans, the two presented a fourth plan. “Mr. Casey brought something to my attention that we are all talking about the third minority, district one, two, and three will be map number four.”

More plans are being mapped out and a citizen’s plan will also be considered. Watson said, “Depending on the magnitude of changes, if any from here, the council will have to decide whether we have another work session or move to a public hearing or exactly which way there is to go.”