By Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune
Friday, February 11, 2011

With the numbers from the latest census now tabulated, residents are no doubt hearing quite a bit lately about redistricting.

In the most general terms, redistricting is the redrawing of political districts, from Congress on down to local councils, that coincides with the new census every 10 years. But make no mistake: It's a process that can be fraught with political intrigue, as communities - and politicians - clamor to hold onto their political might.

Two events Thursday aim to help St. Tammany Parish residents make their way through the confusing topic.

State Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Covington, and other members of the Senate Committee on Senate and Government Affairs will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. at the Fuhrmann Auditorium at the Greater Covington Center, 317 N. Jefferson St.

Committee members will show district maps for Congress, the state Senate and House of Representatives, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Public Service Commission, and the courts of appeal, according to a news release from Donahue's office.

The meeting is open to the public.

Later Thursday, in an unrelated gathering, the Tammany Together group's quarterly membership meeting will feature Ed Chervenak, a University of New Orleans political science instructor, who will discuss what redistricting means to citizens.

The Tammany Together meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Garden Room at Christwood Retirement Community, 100 Christwood Blvd., off Louisiana 21 south of Covington. The meeting is open to the public.

Donahue will also join Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, on Louisiana Public Broadcasting's "Louisiana Public Square" for a citizen roundtable discussion on Louisiana redistricting. It will air Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Louisiana Legislature convenes March 30 for a special session on redistricting.

calling 892-3216, or visit the chamber's web site, www.sttammanychamber.org.

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