The Fort Worth City Council has passed a resolution opposing Tarrant County's plan for redistricting ahead of the 2026 election. The resolution opposes changing any existing precinct boundaries.
Last month, Tarrant County commissioners approved an agreement with the Public Interest Legal Foundation to get legal guidance on how to redraw boundaries. Republicans on the commissioners' court said existing boundaries had not been redrawn since 2011, and the U.S. Census says the county's population has increased 400,000, so the population of existing districts is no longer balanced.
Tuesday, the Fort Worth City Council considered a resolution opposing changes to current boundaries.
"Tarrant County Commissioners Court is taking the highly unusual step of engaging in an off-cycle redistricting process with the express intent of changing the current precinct lines," Councilman Chris Nettles wrote in the resolution.
During the meeting, Nettles said the resolution could send a message to Tarrant County commissioners.
"You can't just affect the entire City of Fort Worth with redrawn lines because you want to pick the person of your choice," he said.
Councilwoman Jeanette Martinez said Public Interest Legal Foundation "refuses to answer questions" from the public or attend meetings.
"While I'm not necessarily against the process of mid-decade redistricting, I am opposed to a process that is rushed, not transparent and one that could impact vital infrastructure improvements that are in various stages of planning and construction," she said.
Mayor Mattie Parker voted against the resolution, but she says that is "not a reflection of my displeasure with the way they've conducted redistricting in Tarrant County."
"It is dividing this city. It is dividing this county, and it is unacceptable," she said.
Arlington has hired outside counsel to look at the legality of the county's redistricting plan. Parker said council members have "battle wounds" from the city's own last round of redistricting, but she said their work led to a unanimous vote to create two new districts.
"A few things make me sad [Tuesday]. We've said Democrat and Republican more times than I ever remember in this chamber, and as I have often said, it is irrelevant to city business. It really is," she said.
The resolution passed six to four with Parker, Charlie Lauersdorf, Macy Hill and Alan Blaylock voting against.