City: Apps don't reflect Austin

Women and minorities were underrepresented in initial applications for the city's first Citizens Redistricting Commission—a group that will draw boundaries of 10 geographic districts for the election of City Council members—and Austin City Auditor Kenneth Mory said his office did not anticipate the low response.

"We are not getting the number of applications that we expected," he said in a news release. "In addition, the applications we have received do not reflect the diversity of the City of Austin."

The city stopped collecting applications Feb. 22. As of Feb. 11, the city had collected 183 applications for the CRC, including 41 from Southwest Austin residents.

About 77 percent of CRC applicants were white, while 13.7 percent were Hispanic and 6.6 percent were African-American. About 70 percent were male.

Mory must also find a panel of three certified public accountants to select the CRC members, and of the 44 panel applicants, 77.3 percent were white and 68.2 percent were male, according to the city.

Mory explained one of his goals was to end up with a robust, diverse group in terms of geography, ethnicity, race and gender to represent all of Austin in the selection pool.

Voters in November approved the 10-ONE plan, which will result in 10 single-member districts for City Council members, with the mayor elected at-large. Previously, the council was represented by six at-large council members and an at-large mayor. More information is at www.austintexas.gov/10-ONE.