Sunday, December 3, 2023
By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice on January 11, 2022
New NC redistricting map
A three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court vote on Jan. 11 to uphold the maps created by Republican legislators that were being challenged by several plaintiffs who argue they were drawn for partisan gain and to dilute the impact of racial minorities.
The case now appears headed to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which would decide whether the maps have to be redrawn.
The three judges who heard and ruled on the case in Wake County were appointed by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The panel included two Republicans and one Democrat. The plaintiffs are expected to file for an expedited hearing from the North Carolina Supreme Court which has a majority of Democratic members.
Not surprisingly, reactions to today’s ruling were very different.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said in a statement that, “I am pleased the trial court has ruled in our favor, upholding the maps drawn by the General Assembly in the most transparent process in North Carolina history. Free and fair elections are the result of an open and honest process. The General Assembly’s maps were drawn in the light of day, after months of public comment and feedback.”
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), which represented plaintiff Common Cause, vowed to appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
“We remain confident that our conclusive evidence of partisan bias, obfuscation, and attacks on Black representation, from expert testimony to the mapmakers’ own admissions, will convince the state’s highest court to protect voters from nefarious efforts to entrench partisan power at the expense of free elections and fair representation,” said Senior Counsel for Voting Rights, Hilary Harris Klein.
The decennial redistricting process sets the tone of the political direction of the state for the next 10 years. If they withstand the legal challenges, the new maps could help Republicans create a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly and help regain control of the US House. As drawn, the maps could pave the way for Republicans to win 11 of the 14 US House seats
Locally, members of both parties were angered when the maps were released showing that Dare County is to be split in Kill Devil Hills for the General Assembly districts.
The Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 6, 2021, that candidate filing could begin for all offices except US House and the two chambers of the General Assembly. On Dec. 8, however, the Supreme Court stopped all filing and moved the primary date from March 8 to May 17.
Approximately 1,400 candidates filed to run before the filing-period change. The State Board of Elections has stated that those who filed will be able to pull their filings if the district lines change. They also can decide to file for another office.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID:
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive sealed proposals for Manns Harbor – EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-8), Kitty Hawk – EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-9), Manteo – Youth Center on January 09, 2024. Times to be given on via addendum #01. See the following SCOPE OF WORK: BP 100 – General Trades, BP 105 – Final Cleaning, BP 205 – Demolition, BP 390 – Turnkey Concrete, BP 400 – Turnkey Masonry, BP 500 – Turnkey Structural Steel & Misc. Steel, BP 505 – Light Gauge Metal Trusses, BP 740 – Roofing, BP750 – Siding, BP 790 – Caulking/Sealants, BP 800 – Turnkey Doors/Frames/Hardware/Toilet Specialties/Accessories/Division 10, BP 840 – Curtainwall/Storefront/Glass/Glazing, BP 925 – Drywall/Framing, BP 960 – Resilient Flooring/Carpet/Base/Epoxy, BP 980 – Acoustical Ceilings, BP 990 – Painting and Wall Coverings, BP 1230 – Finish Carpentry and Casework, BP 1250 – Window Treatments, BP 2100 – Fire Protection, BP 2200 – Plumbing, BP 2300 – HVAC, BP 2600 – Electrical, BP 3100 – Earthwork/Turnkey Site, BP 3213- Site Concrete, BP 3290 – Landscaping. Scopes of work may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager.
Bid Location and Time: Bid opening will be held in the Barnhill Contracting Rocky Mount Training & GPS Technology Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Time is as follows: January 09, 2024 at 10:00am and 2:00pm. Times per packages to be given on via addendum #01.
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive, open, and read publicly all bids received in person in the Training & GPS Technology Room at the main office and listed with the virtual viewing at the link to be posted on Barnhill’s Plan Room.
Bids will not be accepted from bidders that are not pre-qualified. No facsimile or email submissions are permitted. Sealed bids are to be hand delivered to the bid opening location noted above or mailed Sealed Bids can be delivered before 9:00am the day of the bid to the Barnhill Contracting Company Office at 800 Tiffany Blvd., Suite 200 Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Attention “Clint Hardison.”
The pre-bid meeting will be held in Person & Zoom Meeting on December 06, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Barnhill Contracting’s Rocky Mount Main Conference Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
The pre-bid meeting link can be located on Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room ( https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) and below. A preferred brand alternates meeting will be held via the same link at the end of the Prebid meeting.
Bid Documents can be viewed or downloaded through Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) after 12/04/2023.
All Bidders are strongly encouraged to include opportunities for HUB participation wherever possible in their respective Bid submission. HUB participation is a part of this contract and must comply with all requirements set forth in the Bid Documents.
The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to add pre-qualified bidders. The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Should you require additional direction, please call Barnhill Contracting Company, (Clint Hardison – 252-802-0740).
Clint Hardison is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Dare EMS – Phase 2 Pre-Bid Conference
Time: Dec 6, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://barnhillcontracting.zoom.us/j/82390692985
Meeting ID: 823 9069 2985
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Comments
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Sandflea
If you can’t beat ‘em, Cheat ‘em!
Beethoven's 5th
To the victory goes the spoils and history is filled with examples.
anotherobxman
Would it be any surprise as to how each of these three voted? The article doesn’t say.
A blind man can see this is blatant gerrymandering. Par for the course.
Sandman
Yeah, because the left has never gerrymandered ever in the history of U.S. politics.. 🙄