Manassas Park Council Voices Gerrymandering Concerns in Letter to Governor

Manassas Park City Council voted this week to write a letter to Gov. Bob McDonnell expressing its concerns about the gerrymandering in the area.

 The Senate's plan, which was vetoed by the governor Friday, divides Prince William County into seven districts— six of the districts would be served by legislators who live outside the county.

 The council had a discussion on the redistricting Tuesday night during its budget workshop, as the now vetoed bill was on the way to the governor.

Manassas Park Councilman Brian Leeper discussed the issue at length with fellow members Tuesday and used a graphic presentation to illustrate the current districting and the proposed changes.

 “The concern as (Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman) Corey Stewart outlined, is that Prince William County is divided up into, what I believe to be, far too many Senate districts,” Leeper said Tuesday to council. “The majority of the population being in Fairfax County, for example, means that essentially legislators will be from Fairfax County and not represent  Prince William County  as effectively as they might if they lived in the county.”

 Stewart apparently sent a letter to Manassas Park officials this week about his discontentment with the plans.

 Council’s letter stated that the body is also concerned about placing Manassas Park and Manassas in two different house districts, Leeper said.