Re-Districting Fall Out Could Spell Trouble For Memphis

(Memphis) Yesterday’s election brought with it a new dimension in state government.

The redistricting pitted some veteran lawmakers against each other and that could spell trouble for the city of Memphis when the Tennessee Legislature returns next year.

Memphis is the economic engine for west Tennessee, but the last census showed there was a shift in population with people moving out of the city.

There’s only one senator that has served longer than Jim Kyle in the entire Tennessee legislature.

Last nights victory over fellow Democratic Senator Beverly Marrero means he will have a chance to keep the seat in November’s general election.

It will be his 30th year in Nashville, “It was a very convincing victory. An awkward campaign against another colleague.”

The census redistricting cost Shelby County three seats.

They were all Democrats, in a Republican controlled legislature.  

Kyle says that will mean new challenges when they go back to work in January, especially for the city of Memphis, “Not only is Shelby county’s representation smaller but the representation is now more suburban than it is urban.  So, it’s going to cause the city of Memphis to have to reach out and work with the suburban communities and with the suburban legislators for us to be successful in Nashville.”

“It’s part of my responsibility for me to see what the new chemistry is going to be like with the new team,” said Mark Norris (R), senate majority leader.

Norris says Memphis already gets most of the money for projects in West Tennessee.

He points to the 95 current state funded road projects underway in the area.

He says now it is time for them to support their smaller sister cities.

“We need to look at what’s best for the greater good and this group can do that,” said Norris.

Those Memphis legislators who lost seats in the redistricting fall out are, Senator Beverly Marrero, Rep. Jeanne Richardson and Rep. Mike Kernell.