The proposed new shape of the legislative district that servesLincoln County would gain a city under the state Senate’s initialproposal for redistricting.

If approved, the proposal would reshape District 39 to extendinto 12 precincts in northwest and central Marion County andencompass most of Columbia, making the district stretch about 65miles from Caseyville to the hub community in that county. Portionsof Simpson County currently in District 39 would be moved out infavor of the Marion County areas.

The district remains relatively neat and simple, followingexactly the borders of Lawrence and Lincoln counties beforeextending into Marion and splitting few precincts.

“My concern was keeping Lincoln and Lawrence in the district ascomplete counties. That’s been the nucleus of District 39,” saidDistrict 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven, who helped drawthe new maps as a member of the Standing Joint LegislativeCommittee on Reapportionment.

“I didn’t want it to go into a sprawling five-county district,”she continued. “Luckily … I was able to keep it together in a wayI thought would be most pleasing to the voters in thatdistrict.”

The new district’s population would total 59,729, composed of38,817 whites and 19,767 blacks. That’s 2,666 citizens more thanthe ideal district size of 57,063.

The portion of Marion County and Columbia moved into District 39was taken from District 40, served by Picayune Republican SidneyAllbritton.

“I think it’s a positive thing. The number of people is aboutthe same, and Columbia is a positive community,” Hyde-Smith said.”They have grown over the last several years, and there’s still alot of development going on there.”

Hyde-Smith won’t represent the district she helped draw – she’sleaving the Senate to run for Commissioner of Agriculture andCommerce. But the four candidates competing for her seat arepleased with the new shape of District 39 and all claim to have an”in” to Columbia.

“I know a lot of people in Columbia,” said Brookhaven DemocratMichael Smith. “I think it’s a fair district.”

Monticello Republican Dave Nichols said the addition of Columbiawould make District 39 stronger for Republicans.

“The northwest corner of Marion County and Columbia, they’re theones who put (Steven) Palazzo in (Congress),” he said.

Brookhaven Republican Sally Doty said the combination ofBrookhaven and Columbia into a single district would make forsmoother politics.

“I like having two large cities in a district. Campaign-wise,it’s easier than having a large rural area,” she said. “It shouldmake it a bit easier for me to get my message out.”

Brookhaven Republican Bill Boerner also likes the new shape ofDistrict 39, but he worries the it will be unfair to voters inMarion County.

“It does a small disservice to that portion of Marion that isthrown into our district. Columbia is the county seat of Marion,and it would be hard for a candidate in that area to get elected,”he said. “It’s just not fair for any county to have a significantportion cut out, but that is the necessary evil ofredistricting.”