PARKERSBURG-Area legislators will be returning to Charleston Thursday to work out a final plan on how to organize the state's legislative districts.
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced he will be calling the Legislature into special session, beginning at noon Thursday, to focus on redistricting.
Tomblin announced his intentions to veto House Bill 106, which outlines a redistricting plan passed by the Legislature, because of "technical" errors in the bill.
The original bill approved by legislators moved Mason County from the state's 2nd Congressional District into the 3rd Congressional District.
The plan has 47 single-seat State Delegate Districts, up from 36, as well as 40 seats in two- to three-member districts, two four-member districts and one five-seat district.
Kanawha County would be split into two districts with four members in one and three in the other.
Legislators have differing opinions on what should be done.
Some believe they should make the corrections to the original bill and pass it. Others believe the entire package should be tossed out and started again with the goal of creating 100 single-member districts.
Delegate Dan Poling, D-Wood, said because the Legislature adjourned with the passage of the original bill, a new bill will have to be drawn up and go through the process.
''I believe they will craft the same bill with the proper corrections made,'' Poling said of precincts being listed wrong and voting blocks being put in the wrong places, resulting in amendments added to the bill toward the end of the last session.
''I hope everyone has had time to go through everything and fix those mistakes,'' Poling said. ''We have already been through all of this. We don't need to spend anymore time on this than what is necessary and to the cost of the taxpayers.''
Minority Whip Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said many Republicans in the Legislature want to throw the current plan out, start over and push for the formation of 100 single-delegate districts.
''It is what is right, fair and balanced,'' he said.
West Virginia continues to be one of the few states to continue to create multi-member districts, Carmichael said.
''We are out of step with the rest of the country,'' he said. ''It is simply wrong.''
Wood County has a three-member district, the 10th, represented by Poling and Republicans John Ellem and Tom Azinger.
Supporters of multi-member districts have said those cover a lot of communities and interests in an area, not just a designated section. Members sit on different committees and that brings a wide range of experience to the benefit of their area, they said.
Carmichael said the majority party is continuing to put together a plan that is a hodgepodge of legislative districts that continually favors their party.
Republicans will continue to push for single delegate districts, which supporters have said would provide greater accountability for elected officials and put the entire state on a level playing field.
''We are going to continue to fight the fight,'' Carmichael said.
