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TO: CHIEF, VOTING RIGHTS SECTION, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION/INQUIRY
Cumberland County Citizens United, Inc. (“CCCU, Inc.,) a 501(C) 3 entity, has been opposed to a “forced” annexation plan instituted by the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina that will to take effect on September 30, 2005. The city estimates that it will annex approximately 42,000 people. CCCU represents thousands of those 42,000 who oppose the annexation. We are opposed because we believe the action to represent taxation (a 60% plus increase) without proper representation (city officials were not elected by those persons to be annexed with little to no political recourse available to the affected citizens) and the citizens were repeatedly denied (by the courts) a voice in the process. Most importantly, we believe that the City of Fayetteville has acted in bad-faith and contrary to federal law throughout this process.
We are more than concerned about how redistricting for this impending annexation was formulated. We strongly believe the redistricting of voters may have constituted gerrymandering, and lines were drawn to protect incumbents by funneling the votes of annexed citizens into districts where opposition to the annexation plan already existed. A look at the enclosed district map shows very irregular district lines, seemingly without logic. The lines only become logical when you note that the two members of the City Council (representing District 6 and 9) who are very vocal in opposing the annexation plan will receive the vast majority of the thousands of annexed persons (opposed to the annexation) as the result of the changing of the voting districts. The annexation will include mostly the western part of the county, Districts 6 and 9.
For these reasons, we are requesting an immediate inquiry/investigation into the redistricting plan as drawn up by the City of Fayetteville. Further, it is our understanding that Fayetteville submitted the pre-approval requests well after the plans were drawn and only after one of our Directors inquired if pre-approval had been granted. The city’s plans were drawn in 2002 and 2003. We question when the requests for pre-approval were submitted and when the final plans were formally approved. We wonder whether or not a thorough review/inspection could have been conducted to ensure compliance with federal voting right criteria and whether maps of the requested district changes were submitted for approval.
We urgently await your response and inquiry and hope to resolve this matter without involving the courts. You may contact me at (910) 487-3279 or William Crisp, Treasurer at (910) 864-1669. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
WALTER F. MURPHY
President
Cumberland County Citizens United, Inc.
1 Enclosure
City Map of Voting Districts
cc: US Senators Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole
US Representatives Bob Etheridge, Robin Hayes and Mike McIntyre
NC State Board of Elections
Cumberland County Board of Elections
Cumberland County Commissioners
Mayor, City of