Bi-partisan redistricting committee appointed

Press release....

RICHMOND, VA, 2 December 2008 – Delegate Mark L. Cole (R-Spotsylvania), Chairman of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, today announced his appointments to the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Reapportionment Committee.

Chairman Cole named Delegates David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), Rosalyn R. Dance (D-Petersburg), William H. Fralin, Jr. (R-Roanoke), Johnny S. Joannou (D-Portsmouth), and S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk) to the Joint Committee.

“I believe that these appointees bring a diverse background and significant knowledge and experience to the redistricting process,” Chairman Cole noted. “I am confident their work will provide a strong foundation for Virginia’s decennial redistricting, serving to initiate a process that will reflect the citizens and laws of the Commonwealth.”

The delegates will serve on the Committee alongside Senators R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax), and Stephen H. Martin (R-Chesterfield). Senator Howell, who chairs the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, designated the Senate members of the Joint Reapportionment Committee earlier this year.

With today’s announcement, the Joint Reapportionment Committee will consist of four Democratic and four Republican members. The Joint Committee, mandated by the Code of Virginia, oversees the initial tasks related to redistricting, and is charged with promoting an orderly process. It will assist in the process of developing a joint redistricting proposal in response to the 2010 census for consideration by both the House and Senate.

"The drawing of legislative and Congressional districts is an important responsibility of the Governor and General Assembly," said Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). “I am confident that Chairman Cole has appointed members that will bring civic awareness and accountability to this committee's participation in that process.”

H/T RCD