Attorney Threatens Lawsuit Over State Maps He Says Are Racially Drawn

by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, from The Patriot Ledger

A Boston attorney is threatening to sue the state over what he says are racially gerrymandered house districts that dilute Randolph’s diverse voting power.

Attorney Paul DeRensis said he wants Randolph to be in one house district. Before the new maps were signed into law last week, Randolph’s voting power was split into three districts. Now, it’s in two districts, dividing the vote of Black and other minority voters. He said he is representing Randolph voters.

“What the new districts do is they divide the Black community between two white districts,” he said.

Elected town officials say the redrawing of political maps, done every 10 years following the census, has always hurt Randolph. The town is a majority-minority community and incumbent legislators consistently work to protect their districts to avoid running against each other.