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FORT BEND COUNTY ASIAN AMERICAN CONCENTRATION FRACTURED IN HOUSE REDISTRICTING PLAN

(04/29/2011)

FORT BEND COUNTY ASIAN AMERICAN CONCENTRATION FRACTURED IN HOUSE REDISTRICTING PLAN

Sugar Land- Today the Texas House of Representatives heard testimony on a number of amendments to HB 150. Among them was Amendment 172 submitted by Rep. Armando Walle. Rep. Walle spoke in favor of restoring the Asian American population within at least one Fort Bend County district. He based his amendment on possible retrogression of the Asian American community of interest in this district.

Rep. Charlie Howard, who currently represents this district, argued in favor of the proposed HB 150 that would reduce the percentage of Asian Americans from 30% to 27%. He claims he has represented “those people” well and attends their events, having been elected sucessfully to office for the last sixteen years.

Asian American advocates representing the Texas Asian American Redistricting Initiative (TAARI) have testified against the fracturing of the concentration of Asian Americans in the Fort Bend area, particularly around Sugar Land. HB 150 reduces the overall share of Asian American population in the core Sugar Land district.

“We appreciate Rep. Walle’s efforts on behalf of the Asian American community in this area,” says TAARI Director, Rogene Gee Calvert. “We are concerned that the Asian American community of interest is now split into four different districts thus diluting its concentration.”

“Rep. Howard’s argument that he has been elected for 16 years by “those people” indicates how insensitive and out of touch he really is to the needs of his Asian American constituency,” declared TAARI consultant Mustafa Tameez. “The action taken today will weaken this Asian American community to elect a candidate of their choice.”

The amendment was tabled by a majority of the House vote.

( 回首頁 Houston eWIND )

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