Fort Bend County commissioners blocked an effort this week to hire outside counsel to assist with redistricting voter precincts.
Republican Commissioner Vincent Morales voted with Democrats against the proposal, despite voting to fund the effort in the previous meeting in March.
“This vote was very unexpected and extremely disappointing,” Fort Bend County GOP Chair Dr. Bobby Eberle said of Morales’ vote.
Eberle says he hopes Morales will reconsider. “I think that would be the logical first step because again, there was no explanation of why this was done—to allocate funds in one meeting but then to vote and not pursue in the next meeting.”
Eberle told Texas Scorecard that in 2021, “Democrats colluded to redraw lines specifically to gerrymander and for political purposes get rid of one of our Republican commissioners: Andy Meyers.”
“Legally, we are supposed to fix these precincts,” Eberle added, referring to a decision by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that said minority coalition districts are not required by law.
County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson said at the commissioner’s court meeting Tuesday that her office had not been consulted about the proposal. She also objected to the firm that the county proposed to hire, calling it “partisan.”
She instead recommended a firm previously used by the county.
Commissioner Andy Meyers said that the commissioners court had the right to retain legal staff without the involvement of the county attorney and that 2021 guidance by the county attorney resulted in a redistricting map out of compliance with state law.
In a statement posted on social media after the vote, Morales accused Fort Bend County Judge KP George of seeking political shelter from money laundering charges filed earlier this month by supporting an effort to fix the issue created in 2021.
”I want to be clear about where I stand: I’m voting to bring our county voting precincts into compliance with the Texas Election Code. And I’m bringing forward an agenda item to restore Sugar Creek back into Precinct 3 and return Commissioner Meyers to his rightful voting precinct,” wrote Morales.
Morales, meanwhile, has indicated that he still supports the redistricting effort, telling Texas Scorecard, “My March 25th vote to comply with the Texas Election Code will soon be fulfilled with additional GOP favorable redistricting.”
