For immediate release:
Feb. 6, 2013
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Communications and Public Information Office, (512) 974-2969
City Auditor calls for more applicants and diversity for
10-ONE Process
Feb. 22 deadline approaches to apply for the Commission and the Panel
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The Austin City Auditor continues to seek applicants for the 10-ONE Redistricting Process with a special call to women and minority groups to increase the diversity of the applicant pools to better reflect the rich diversity of the Austin community.
“My office has initiated an extensive outreach campaign that not only includes advertising, but many one-on-one meetings with Austin’s leaders in the Latino, Asian-American, and African-American communities,” City Auditor Kenneth Mory said. “We are not getting the number of applications that we expected. In addition, the applications we have received do not reflect the diversity of the City of Austin.”
As of Feb. 6, approximately 90% of Commission applicants are white and 80% are male. For the Panel applicants, only 25% meet the qualifications to serve and all are white.
“The 10-ONE effort was initiated by citizens and approved by Austin voters. I am calling on all Austinites to step up to the challenge and apply for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and the Applicant Review Panel. In particular, my call goes out to women and members of the minority communities in Austin,” Mory said. “Commission members will make history as the first citizen-initiated, independent entity to establish the boundaries for the 10 new City Council districts.”
Application forms can be found on-line and at City facilities such as Austin Public Libraries, recreation and senior facilities, and City Hall. Visit the 10-ONE website at www.austintexas.gov/10-ONE in order to apply using our on-line forms, to find out more information about the process, or to find a list of locations where applications are available.
In January, the City Auditor implemented a citywide public awareness campaign for the 10-ONE Redistricting application process which included information in both English and Spanish.
The City Auditor created the 10-ONE Redistricting website portal and implemented “Shape Austin’s Future” public service announcements which have been on Capital Metro buses, outdoor billboards, newspaper ads, promotional fliers, direct mailers, social media, radio, and television. Additionally, the City Auditor hosted several public information sessions in the community.
In February, additional outreach events will be held by community stakeholder groups. These events can be found on the “Outreach Events” page of the 10-ONE Redistricting website.
NOTE to Editors: City Auditor Ken Mory will be available at 10 a.m., Feb. 7 at City Hall 2nd floor for interviews. Call Patricia Fraga, Public Information Office, 974-2969 to schedule.
About the 10-ONE Redistricting Process
City of Austin voters approved Proposition 3, a City Charter amendment commonly referred to as “10-1,” in November 2012. This Charter amendment provides for the election of City Council Members from 10 geographic single-member districts, with the Mayor elected from the City at-large beginning with the November 2014 election.
The amendment calls for the creation of a three-member Applicant Review Panel and a 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission. The Commission will draw the boundaries for the City of Austin’s new Council election districts.
The City Auditor is tasked with initiating and widely publicizing an application process and taking all reasonable and necessary steps to get a diverse pool of applicants.
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