Shelby County to be part of two new districts

By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

Attorney General Luther Strange announced Oct. 5 that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved the 2012 redistricting plans for the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Under those plans, Shelby County would be part of a new Senate District 11, which would include Columbiana, Shelby and Wilsonville and a new House District 73, which would include parts of Maylene, Shelby and Montevallo, according to state Rep. Jim McClendon, R-Springville.

The Department of Justice must review any change in voting practices in certain states, including Alabama, before those changes can go into effect.

With the Department of Justice’s actions, the plans can be put into effect before the next House and Senate election cycle in 2014.

McClendon said during an Oct. 4 South Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he would “probably” run for the Senate District 11 seat.

The new House District 73 does not contain an incumbent, so that seat will be open in the 2014 elections, McClendon said during the luncheon.