County Chairman Attacks Senate Redistricting Plan

County Chairman Corey Stewart today criticized Sen. George Barker's redistricting plan approved last week, calling it a "disgrace" and "gross injustice to Prince William County."

Stewart said the county is entitled to two and one half Senate seats based on Prince William County's population numbers. But Barker's plan "ensures that the county will only have one representative in the state Senate," Stewart said. Barker's plan would cut Prince William County into seven Senate districts and Stewart said six of these districts will likely have senators who live in other counties, including Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier and Westmoreland.

“Although I have disagreed with him in the past, I have never before questioned Senator Barker’s motives," Stewart said in a prepared statement. "But this plan disenfranchises Prince William County and its citizens.  The plan dilutes the influence of Prince William in Richmond, despite the fact that we are the second largest County in the Commonwealth and growing fast." 

Stewart will ask Gov. Bob McDonnell to veto Barker's plan.

Barker said tonight that  his plan does not decrease Prince William's representaton. Barker said because of population shifts in Northern Virginia, Prince William County will grow to six senators instead of the four it has now.

"Likewise in the plan drawn and passed by the Republican-led House of Delegates, there was an increase from five to eight delegate seats, four of which contain territory outside the Prince William area," Barker said.

Barker said the new 22nd District that was created because of population growth contains parts of Western Prince William County, and a county resident already has announced to run 

"With more senators accountable to Prince William voters, the county will end up with more advocates for its concerns in Richmond, not fewer," Barker contended.

Even though Sen. Barker lives just across Bull Run, he has worked tirelessly for Prince William County on numerous pieces of legislation, including a major economic development bill designed exclusively for the county – and supported by Chairman Corey Stewart – that was signed into law this March.  He has also voted for bipartisan redistricting reform every year he has been in office, only to see it die in the House of Delegates each time. 

Sen. Barker and the other members of the delegation maintain a constant dialogue with local officials and residents.  As long as Sen. Barker remains in the Virginia Senate, Prince William County will not be underrepresented.