July 15, 2006, 1:15AM
Remap plans put 3 lawmakers in jeopardy
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - Proposals to reunite Webb County into one congressional district and boost Latino voting strength in South Texas were given to a federal court Friday, but the partisan nature of some plans could cause some incumbent congressmen re-election headaches later this year.
The new congressional maps were delivered to a three-judge federal panel that must decide how to fix South Texas congressional District 23, which the U.S. Supreme Court declared illegal last month.
The nation's high court said dividing Webb County into two congressional districts diluted Latino voting rights in violation of federal law.
All of the proposed new maps put Webb County back together in one congressional district or another.
But they also had a varying political impact on three incumbents: U.S. Reps. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio; Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo; and Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4048500.html