Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections
Digital Commons @Vtext
Community Archives - Houseal Collection
CA004-001-011
1984
Letter to Civil Action Participants from
Todd Johnson, 1984 July 2
Houseal, Willi, H.
For this and additional works see: https://vtext.valdosta.edu/xmlui/handle/10428/6958
UUID: 83ADBF3F-53FC-52B6-4EDC-A19439DBC7BD
Recommended Citation:
Houseal, Willie H., “Letter to Civil Rights Action Participants from Todd Johnson,” 1984 July 2. Box 1, Folder 1, Houseal Collection, Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, Valdosta, Georgia. [url]
This item is part of the Community Archives: Houseal Collection at Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections. Physical and intellectual rights are reserved by Dr. W. Houseal. Physical materials were loaned to Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections for the purposes of digital preservation. The digital items here are part of an online collection only. If you have any questions or concerns contact archives@valdosta.edu
ATTORNEYS AT LAW IMOGENE L. WALKER TODD JOHNSON CINDY JOHNSON JANICE Y. MARTIN
GEORGIA LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM
VALDOSTA REGIONAL OFFICE 114 North Toombs Street P. O. Box 1267 VALDOSTA, GEORGIA 31601 (912) 333-5232 GIST 349-5232 JOHN L. CROMARTIE, JR. Executive director HERMAN LODGE President ROSITA STANLEY Vice President MARY BUCKNER Vice President COLUMBUS GILMORE Secretary CHARLES LESTER Treasurer
2 July 1984
Dear Participant:
This letter is an talked with you, I
update to our recent conversations. When I tried to find out what your preferences were concerning settlements. My sense is, that many of you were concerned with getting a black in office fairly quickly and all of you were concerned with getting a fair plan. At the point I spoke with you last, we talked about a 6-district plan or a 5-district plan with one at-large seat. Since that time, the offers have changed.
Through some strategy, it may be possible for us to get the City to go to a 6-0 plan that is very well drawn. After talking with Willie Houseal about this strategy, he agreed that it might be worth giving up an earlier election so that we could have such good lines. Although we may be able to get both the good lines and an earlier election, this is not certain.
Please call me if you have any objections to going for a plan that will serve Valdosta better in the future but delay black representation one year.
In line with your feelings, we have offered the settlement if the City would go to a plan which is 6 or 8 districts with 50% of the representation in districts coming from over 65% black population. From what you have said, I understand that a plan with less black representation may be a possible settlement, but at this point, it may be possible for us to succeed in getting that very high percent of black representation.
Please call me if you have questions or comments about the election issue.
Best regards,
Todd Johnson Staff Attorney
TJ:hwl
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER