Evening star., 1951-03-10
First Fairfax
Redistrictinq
Since 1874 Set
Judge Brown to Pick
Commission of Seven;
No Time Limit Fixed

no lime llrnIt flxe(
Fairfax County is about to b
redistricted for the first tim
since it's six magisterial district
were established in 1874.
Circuit Judge Paul Brown or
dered the redistricting after
public hearing, and said he woul
appoint a seven-member commits
sion to do the job.
Once established, Judge Brow
said, the commission will hav
the final say in determining tn
number of magisterial district
and in setting their boundaries
The judge added that he woul'
not impose any time limit on tn
new commission members, leavinl
1t entirely up to them whether tn
new district boundaries are es
tablished in time for the mex
Board of Supervisors election
when one representative is to b.
elected from each district. Tht
primaries are August 8.
Won't Set Time Limit.
Hope that the redistrictins
could be accomplished in time
for the primaries was expressed
at the hearing by Mrs. Edward
Macy. president of the Fairfa,
League of Women Voters, ane
Guy Bayes, president of the Fed
Grafton of Fairfax County Citi.
Zens' Associations.
Il can't make any promises
how soon it can be done. Seem.
to me if you are so concerned
about that you should have flee
a redistricting petition sooner,
said Judge Brown.
Mr.. Bayes replied that the fed.
Grafton had been on record favor
ing redistricting for over a year
He said it was decided not to press
the matter, however, until after
the county government referen-
dunn in November.
If the federation-favored coun.
ty manager system had beer
adopted in the referendum, Mr.
Bayes explained. the supervisors
would have been elected at large
and representation on the super
visors would not have been af-
fected by redistricting. The voters
instead adopted the county eXecu-
tive type of government, which
retains the present system of elec-
ting supervisors by magisterial
districts.
July Filing DeadIine.
In reply to a question by Mrs.
Macy, Judge Brown said he
thought redistricting would have
to be finished before June 8 if
the new districts are to be used at
the next supervisors election. This
is because candidates have to file
their petitions by July s, he said
The judge declared that in ad-
dition to establishing new magis-
terial districts, it also would be
necessary to work out new pre-
cincts within each district. He
said he was not sure at this time
what procedure had to be followed
in rearranging precincts because
the law pertaining to redistrict-
ing makes no mention of that.
I'm any event." said Judge
Brown, "it's a big job. 1t seems
to me to do a quick job might
result in a poor job"
Mrs. Macy wanted to know
what would happen if the new
districts are created after the
August primary and before the
November general election.
1--WE might wind up with two
sets of supervisors" the judge
laughingly replied.
Judge Explains Law.
In response to another question
by Mrs. Macy, Judge Brown ex-
planned what would occur if the
commission establishes a seventh
magisterial district after super
visors are elected from the exist
ing six districts. He said the law
would permit him to declare 8
vacancy on the board, and to ap.
point some one to fill the vacancy
until the next election.
Judge Brown wanted it made
clear at the outset of yesterdays
hearing that he had not sought tt
delay the redistricting.
I'm in favor of redistricting
Let there be no mistake abou
that" the judge said. But NJ
one who filed any of these peti.
tions did anything about posting
(advertising) them until I did i
personally Petitioners shoule
take care of posting, he added.
First Petition in November.
The first redistricting petition
was filed in November by Davit
Lawrence, Washington news write
who served on the Government
Study Commission that recon
mended adoption of the count,
executive government. Mr.. Law
renee in his petition suggested al
odd number of magisterial district!
possibly nine.
The Federation filed the secon
petition, urging an odd numbe
of magisterial districts with ap
proximately equal population, an
the Fairfax Republican Commit
tee establishment of a redistrict
ing commission to arrange seve
magiSterial districts.
Judge Brown said the Republi
cans request for commissio
automatically required him to ar
point one, instead of mapping tn
redistricting himself He promise
to appoint the commissioners E
soon as possible.
Others Who Spoke.
Besides Mrs. Macy and M
Bayes, others who spoke in bt
half of the Federation's rediI
tricting petition were Attorne
Edward Prichard, Omer Hirst, ar
David StJ111