New Hanover County Republican Party doesn't like latest congressional map version

Verne Strickland Blogmaster

July 25, 2011     

                     

The New Hanover County Republican Party expresses its opposition to Map 2A for Congressional District 7 that was recently proposed by the N.C Legislature’s Redistricting Committee Rucho-Lewis. 

“This new map defies logic and common sense,” says Chairwoman Rhonda Amoroso.  “It reaches too far north to Johnston County and too far west into Hoke County.  Moreover, Map #2A is defective in that it creates Congressional District 3 out of a jigsaw puzzle piece of downtown Wilmington lumping it with part of neighboring Pender County and stretches all the way up north to the Virginia border in Currituck County.  

"This is the kind of distortion that would make Elbridge Gerry blush," she continued.  "We believe that a Congressional District should reflect, to the extent practicable, the commonality of interests of a particular community or geographic region.  To mix coastal and agricultural areas willy nilly to advance some unknown agenda is what we fought against for so many years.”  

The previously proposed map, #1, was well crafted and was indeed a true “coastal district” bound by common interests inherent in our coastal economies, tourism, and beautiful beaches, Amoroso said.  The NHC GOP went on record commending the Committee at the July 7, 2011 Forum for its work in producing Map #1.  

“However, we feel that there has been a ‘Bait and Switch’ with the manipulations incorporated into Map #2A.  This new D7-2A map randomly lumps together inland agricultural areas that have wholly different economies, population densities, and communities that have little, if any, common interests with the residents of New Hanover County.” said Chairwoman Amoroso.

In the interest of fairness and common sense, the NHC GOP strongly urges the Redistricting Committee to go back to the drawing board and produce a Congressional District that reflects the original “coastal district” in proposed map #1. 

The residents of Southeast North Carolina deserve to be represented by a Congressman who understands the issues facing our coastal community here in New Hanover County and that of our coastal neighbors.

Contact with inquiries:  Rhonda K. Amoroso, Chairwoman of the New Hanover County GOP 910-399-2508 or Rhonda.gopchair@gmail.com.