Fulshear is taking steps toward redistricting as City Council districts continue to become more uneven due to population growth since the 2020 census.

Zooming in

A study conducted by law firm Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP found that the city more than doubled its current population, putting the standard deviation between the largest and smallest district at 153.22%—significantly above the court-interpreted requirement of 10%, attorney Sydney Falk said at a Sept. 2 Fulshear City Council special meeting.

Falk said he estimates the city to now have a population of about 38,724, an average of 3.4 people per housing unit, which would put the average district size at 7,745 people, with approximately:
  • 13,233 people in District 1
  • 3,238 people in District 2
  • 4,492 people in District 3
  • 14,814 people in District 4
  • 2,947 people in District 5
The options

Falk presented the council with four potential redistricting maps, each with a deviation below 10%. The law firm aimed to keep incumbents in their districts and subdivisions together, he said.
Of the four plans, two managed to hit both criteria, with the other two only hitting one. Council members preferred the third map, which has a deviation of just 3.51%, but puts District 2 council member Patrick Powers and District 5 council member Abhijeet Utturkar in the same district.


“I think it logically makes the most sense to me. It brings some representation downtown that they need,” Powers said. “Maybe I go take a vacation, I’m okay with that too.”

Looking forward

Council members requested the firm redraw the map to unite the Bonterra community. Council will vote on the maps at a Sept. 16 meeting.

If new maps are approved, all city council members—including the mayor—must run in the next election, Falk said. Following the election, the city must determine how it will fairly stagger the seat terms ahead of the required redistricting in 2031.