Redistricting Proposal Would Move Scott Into Third Congressional District

Nashville, TN (2012-01-06) Scott County would shift from the sprawling 22-county, 4^th Congressional District to the 3^rd District under plans presented Wednesday in Nashville.

In a joint release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) proposed redraft of Tennessee’s nine congressional districts would result in significant changes across the state, including the shifting of Scott County from the 4^th to the 3^rd district. The changes, stated lawmakers, were made to equalize populations and make them more compact. District boundaries were reportedly based on logical groupings of communities of common interest.

Under the Speakers’ proposal, all three East Tennessee districts would be entirely in East Tennessee and both West Tennessee districts would be entirely in the West Grand Division. Four districts would be anchored in Middle Tennessee and no district geographically resembles the sprawling 4th and 7th districts of the last two decades.

To meet the strict zero deviation population mandates set down by federal courts, the plan splits just eight counties, two fewer than the 10 counties split in the map approved in 2002. Neighboring Campbell County was among those counties split between districts, as the northernmost section of the county will lie in the second, while the remainder will join Scott in the third. Other divided counties included: Shelby, Benton, Van Buren, Maury, Cheatham, Bradley, and Jefferson.

In the new alignment, Scott County would move into the third district, joining other northern counties, including Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Union, and Roane. Other counties in the district include: McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Bradley (southernmost portion), and Hamilton Counties.

If approved, Scott County, which is currently represented by Dr. Scott DesJarlais (R- South Pittsburg), would be represented by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R- Ooltewah). Fleischmann, an attorney and former small business owner, ran a family owned business in Chattanooga for 24-years. In Washington, Chuck serves on two committees: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Chuck and his wife, Brenda, who is also a lawyer, live in Ooltewah, Tennessee with their three sons.