No new election is necessary to redraw council districts, a lengthy memo released today by the Lafayette City-Parish Council states.
At issue are some clerical errors that were made in listing precincts in new districts approved by voters back in December, when they decided that the “consolidated” council needed to be broken up into separate city and parish councils again. To read our most recent story on it, click here.
According to the memo, which was prepared by several city-parish attorneys, including Mike Hebert, who has represented Lafayette since before consolidation, there’s no need for a new election.
A part of the amended charter “provides for the reapportionment of the newly created council election districts,” the memo states. The way that is done, according to the charter, is done via a council ordinance.
“This course of action is consistent with a reasonable interpretation of LCG’s Home Rule Charter, the applicable state law regarding reapportionment, as well as LCG’s previous actions in amending council election districts,” the memo states.
Here’s a copy of the memo, if you’d like to read it for yourself:
