New Mexico: Legislators of Albuquerque’s West Side rally for more House seats
Lawmakers and community advocates from Albuquerque’s fast-growing West Side rallied Tuesday outside the Capitol for more representation, as the Legislature is drawing plans to redistrict House and Senate seats during the special session.
“Democracy demands that we get three more House seats,” said Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque. “Where the seats come from is not a problem of the West Side.”
The West Side is responsible for about 40 percent of New Mexico’s population growth over the past ten years. Overall, the state has grown by about 200,000 people, or 13 percent.
The Journal adds that a “consensus” may be forming around giving the West Side at least two new House seats, possibly consolidating two Roswell districts and two Mid-Heights Albuquerque districts.