Laughlin's district from snout to tail, or east to west, is roughly 310 miles, or longer than the trip from Amarillo to Oklahoma City. You have to meet the folks and find out what is on their minds. There is always something going on. What is going on is redistricting, and Laughlin's expansive district is an example of what can happen when you mix U.S. Census numbers, partisan politicians, representation, taxation and population - a lethal concoction that rivals Grandma's arthritis medicine as far as potency. What's up for grabs is the political landscape at the local, state and federal levels for the next 10 years.
Political careers are at stake, as is the allocation of taxpayer money.
And you thought the census was just about the number of toilets in your home. Laughlin, owner of the largest senatorial district in the state as far as land mass, represents the example politicians should emulate during redistricting - forget partisan political games and stick to the numbers game. Laughlin voted initially against the legislative redistricting proposal in a Senate committee due in part to the loss of Ellis and Dewey counties. I think it doesn't meet some of the rules the Supreme Court has set as far as compactness, but I ended up voting for it on the floor because I felt like it was going to happen anyway. If I try to change my district that changes the rest of the state, and there was no point in it.