Commissioners Court discusses redistricting process

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday received an initial assessment report relating to the Constitutionally-mandated redistricting process it will undertake in the next several weeks. Claudia Russell, an attorney with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP, of Austin, gave the assessment report. The 2020 U.S. Census data shows that Smith County grew from 209,714 people in 2010, to 233,479 people in 2020 – an 11.33 percent increase. Some portions of the county have grown more than others, which requires the Commissioners Court to adjust existing Commissioners Court precinct lines to allow for a more equal representation of residents in each precinct, according to a news release. Click here for a more complete rundown.