State Rep. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), who serves as co-chair of the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment, did not know what to expect from those attending Friday’s public hearing in Selma. But, what he has come to expect from the series of public hearings to discuss the upcoming redrawing of congressional and state school board districts is to expect the unexpected.

“People have asked me what is the biggest surprise that has come from the meetings and I tell them it has been the topics people have brought up,” McClendon said following the Selma public hearing that attracted more than 40 residents. “You never know what some are going to say.”

While some of the dozen speakers did take up topics that did not have much to do with the upcoming redistricting, there were some, including State Rep. Darrio Melton (D-Selma) who called on the committee not to expand the Seventh Congressional District, which Selma is a part of, into the Montgomery market.

“I am concerned of this district including a third metropolitan area,” Melton said. “The Seventh Congressional District already extends well into Birmingham and well into Tuscaloosa. It is my hope the district will be drawn in a way that represents all of the residents and not just three areas.”

As part of the redistricting effort, the committee must divide the state’s population into seven districts with equal population while also ensuring there is at least one district with a majority minority population. The Seventh District is the lone district with a majority minority population, but it is that population that has dwindled over the past decade, leaving the committee a task of finding an additional 79,467 people to balance the population.

In an Associated Press report Friday, McClendon said the committee is clearly focused on ensuring the new districts comply with all federal laws and guidelines.

“It is my intention to keep minority representation at least at the same level it is today,” McClendon said.

Following Friday’s meeting McClendon said he was pleased with the comments made by area residents.

“When they stand up and talk about let’s draw this line east, or west, or north of south. That’s the kind of statements we were seeking,” McClendon said. “That’s the type of information we got tonight. These folks have put a lot of thought into this.”

As for the crowd, Melton, who believes most people don’t understand just how important the reapportionment process is, said he hoped for more.

“I wish it had been standing room only here,” Melton said. “I don’t think people realize the magnitude of what this process means, of what these Congressional lines being redrawn means.”

Following the public hearings, members of the committee will develop the first of the proposed redistricting plans, which will then be made public for additional comments.

After that, the plans will be presented to the Alabama Legislature who will have to approve the new congressional districts and the new state school board districts.

For the new districts to become reality, they will then have to be approved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ensuring they conform with components of the Civil Rights Act of 1965.

The new congressional and state school board districts will be effective in time for the 2012 elections.