After debate that some members deemed volatile and divisive, the Denver City Council arrived at consensus Monday on two proposed redistricting maps that will move on to a committee meeting next week.
Both maps face several amendments and will also need to be numbered before a final vote this month.
What became a cause of contention is that one map would divide largely Latino neighborhoods in northwest Denver between Districts 1 and 9 while the other map would isolate those neighborhoods in District 1, which has decreased its concentration of Latinos over the past decade.
“We received some good feedback today, and we’ll go back and make some changes to the maps,” said District 11 Councilman Chris Herndon, a committee co-chairman who drew Map F, which carves neighborhoods away from the existing District 9.
Originally, five maps were proposed, but on Monday, Herndon presented the working committee with Map F, and he took flak from District 9 Councilwoman Judy Montero for not consulting with her beforehand.
“Some of these maps are all about incumbency protection, and under some of these maps my district would be dismantled,” said Montero, who is in her third and final term in office.
The complaints Montero voiced over Herndon’s map came in regard to the Chaffee Park and Sunnyside neighborhoods, which the map takes out of District 9 and places solely in District 1.
Under her preferred Map D — drawn by District 3 Councilman Paul Lopez, also a committee co-chairman — portions of those neigborhoods remain in her northwest district.
“I’m fighting for those neighborhoods because I don’t want those neighborhoods’ voices to be diluted,” Montero said.
The U.S. census shows that District 9 lost more than 8,000 Latino residents over the past decade and gained nearly 9,000 white residents. The district that in 2000 was two-thirds Latino now has about equal numbers of white and Latino residents.
Every decade after census numbers are revealed, the council redraws its 11 districts to fairly divide the city among the representatives. The council consists of two at-large members and 11 district members, who all sit on the redistricting committee.
Under Denver’s charter, the council must adopt a new redistricting map by April 30. The new map would then go into effect for the 2015 City Council elections.
“We just have to make sure we get these maps together and ready for a vote,” Lopez said.
Kurtis Lee: 303-954-1655, klee@denverpost.com or
