A PROPOSAL FOR TENNESSEE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING RELEASED WEDNESDAY CALLS FOR MAJOR CHANGES IN GILES AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES. THE PLAN TAKES THE SOUTHERN FOURTH OF LAWRENCE COUNTY, INCLUDING IRON CITY, SAINT JOSEPH, FIVE POINTS, BONNERTOWN AND A PORTION OF LORETTO AND MERGES WITH THE SOUTHERN HALF OF GILES COUNTY, INCLUDING PULASKI, ALL OF WAYNE AND HARDIN COUNTIES INTO THE 71ST DISTRICT. THE REST OF LAWRENCE, NORTHERN GILES AND ALL OF LEWIS COUNTIES WOULD FALL INTO THE 70TH DISTRICT. JOEY HENSLEY, WHO REPRESENTS THE 70TH DISTRICT, IS OPPOSED TO THE MEASURE. GILES COUNTY’S CURRENT 65TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE EDDIE BASS, WHOSE SEAT WOULD BE ELIMINATED IF THE PROPOSAL PASSES, HAS ALSO EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL. THE PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR LAWRENCE, GILES, MAURY, WAYNE AND HICKMAN COUNTIES TO BE GROUPED TOGETHER INTO A NEW STATE SENATE DISTRICT. SEVERAL LAWRENCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGES. VOTING ON THE PROPOSAL WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK AND HAS TO CLEAR BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE BEFORE BECOMING LAW. SHOULD THE MEASURE PASS, CHANGES TO THE DISTRICTS WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE BY THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

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