Why the "Pig Trail Gerrymander" is Bad for Arkansas

Bill Smith, Editor: Regardless of political party, voters should oppose all gerrymandering of Congressional Districts when it separates voters in the the same counties into separate Congressional Districts. In the present situation, the Democrat leadership and members is the Arkansas Legislature are seeking to abuse the public. They call it politics, but in fact it is abuse!

These Democrats are not even trying to hide their animosity to Arkansans who last November elected more conservatives to office than in prior years. It is a desperate attempt to hold on to power in the face of a resounding defeat at the polls. "The Democratic Party is using Washington-style tactics and parliamentary ploys to reverse the will of Arkansas voters who chose to elect a majority Republican congressional delegation."

The "pig trail" redistricting proposal, endorsed by the Arkansas Democratic Party is indeed “raw partisan politics” as expresses by Republican State Party Chairman Doyle Webb. “The State Democratic Party’s map does not respect the traditional communities of interest in Arkansas.” While minor realignment of counties to different congressional districts based on population changes is required, "pig trail" gerrymandering is not needed or desired. All U.S. Congressmen, including Rep. Mike Ross of the 4th Congressional District, should be opposing proposed gerrymandering actions.

Arkansas Democratic Attorney General Dustin McDaniel who has previously failed Arkansans by opposing the abuses by the Federal Government, has already lowered himself to support gerrymandering partisan politics according to an Arkansas House member who recently addressed the AG McDaniel's support for their partisan map: “The Attorney General made a statement that he will defend any map that comes out . . .”

Tell Arkansas Democrats to stop playing partisan politics!

---

Top Reasons Why the "Pig Trail Gerrymander" is Bad for Arkansas

• The State Democratic Party’s proposed congressional redistricting map dubbed the "Pig Trail Gerrymander" ignores the traditional communities of interest in Arkansas. We have four regions: Ozarks, Northeast Delta, Central Arkansas and the Southern Timberlands.

• The map splits these regions, especially the Ozarks and Southern Timberlands.

• The map splits five counties in Arkansas.

• The “Pig Trail Gerrymander” or “Fayetteville Finger” is the State Democratic Party’s desperate attempt to hold on to power in the face of a resounding defeat at the polls last November. The manipulated boundaries give Arkansas Democrats a path to continue 140 years of one-party rule in Arkansas.

• Arkansas Democrats are more interested in power play politics than fairly representing the diverse people of Arkansas. Democrats have blocked other proposals in the House State Agencies Committee which stay truer to our current congressional makeup and split fewer than five counties.

• The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce opposes the capture of Fayetteville into the fourth. Fayetteville has been in the Third Congressional District for more than thirty years. Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Steve Clark said, “I believe this proposal is detrimental to the economic growth of Fayetteville and the economic growth of our region. This proposal is partisan and overly political.”

• Congressman Steve Womack and former Rogers Mayor opposes the proposal stating, “it undermines 20 plus years of progress we made…and I don’t think for partisan reasons we should destroy that.” Congressman Womack is referring to the decades of efforts made between city governments to help Northwest Arkansas work as one area to improve economic development.

Take Action Now! Visit Updated Info On Pig Trail Gerrymander
Join the Anti-Gerrymandering Pig Trail Cause on Facebook
Republican Party of Arkansas - p: (501) 372-7301 | f: (501) 372-1656

---

Tags: Pig Trail Gerrymander, Fayetteville Finger, Democratic Party of Arkansas, Republican Party of Arkansas, Partisan Pig Trail, Arkansas GOP, Arkansas, Democrat, Republican, Pig Trail, gerrymandering To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!