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Mayor James Perkins Jr.’s redistricting plan highlighted Tuesday’s Selma City Council meeting. 

In the Mayor’s report. Perkins discussed his plan to reduce the Wards from nine to five to the city council. Perkins said his plan was assisted with the reappropriations office in Montgomery. 

The City of Selma is split into eight wards. Council members are over the following Wards: Troy Harvill (Ward 1), Christie Thomas (Ward 2), Clay Carmichael (Ward 3), Lesia James  (Ward 4), Sam Randolph (Ward 5), Atkin Jemison (Ward 6), Jannie Thomas (Ward 7) and Michael Johnson (Ward 8). Council President Billy Young is elected at large.

Perkins believes his redistricting plan fits the city’s population requirements. The city’s population is now at 17,000, down from over 27,000 a decade ago.  ‘

Councilman Clay Carmichael reacted to the laws and procedures about the population in the wards. Perkins and City Attorney Major Madison believe the ward is plus or minus 5 percent. Carmichael sees it as 10%. Perkins asserted his responsibility was to present and he did that. Perkins and the city council went back and forth on why five districts work instead of just retaining the lines at eight.

President Billy Young, and council members Clay Carmichael, Jannie Thomas, Christie Thomas, Sam Randolph, Troy Harvill, and Atkin Jemison attended the meeting.

The city council also had an executive session that lasted almost an hour.