One More Thing On The Morgan Griffith Front

Something worth noting.  In an interview with the Martinsville Bulletin the other day, one that covered a wide range of subjects, Mr. Griffith addressed redistricting.  We all know it's coming now that the 2010 census is complete.  So what can we expect?  To quote from Paul Collins's article:

Griffith said he believes that between 67,000 and 79,000 people will be added to the 9th District, the least populous congressional district in the state, as a result of redistricting following the 2010 census. Although the General Assembly and governor have to approve any redistricting plan, “I think it’s almost impossible not to take in Martinsville and Salem,” he said.

He also believes several more precincts in Henry County, but not the entire county, will be among the areas added to the 9th District. Several precincts in western Henry County already are in the 9th District.

As has been mentioned here many times, the 9th Congressional District continues to lose population, while most of the rest of Virginia (thrives and ...) grows. So it is expected that more geography will have to be thrown into the 9th to balance things out (at least until there is no 9th district and Southwest Virginia is absorbed by the 5th and 6th).

To the folks in Martinsville and Salem: Welcome to the "Fightin' 9th," where we are indeed in the fight of our lives. Glad to have you with us.