Greenwood's city elections and those in eight other Mississippi cities this year would be held in wards as they exist now under a bill winning passage Monday in the state House.
Mayor Harry Smith was delighted with the bill passing its first legislative hurdle and looks forward toward swift action by the Senate.
"It is just a simple solution to a problem that shouldn't exist," Smith said.
State Senator David Jordan, D-Greenwood, the bill's principal author, said he was "elated that it has gotten out of the House."
Jordan also serves as Ward 6 councilman on the Greenwood City Council.
Supporters of the bill said the cities of Jackson, Tupelo, Bay St. Louis, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Biloxi and Laurel - all mayor-council form of government - cannot redraw ward lines with the release of U.S. Census data unlikely before March or April.
Municipal candidates must qualify by March 1. Party primaries are in May and the general election is in June.
Leaders of the nine cities want the law changed so they can continue elections without redistricting. The proposed change is intended to erase the possibility of holding municipal elections in back-to-back years - regular elections this year under existing lines and special elections in 2002 under redrawn lines.
The bill now will be "double referred" to both the Senate municipalities and election committees for hearings, Jordan said.
Jordan, municipalities committee chairman, said he expects the committee will approve the bill this week.
Prospects for the legislation are good with the Senate's leadership firmly behind it, he said. "The governor will sign it," Jordan said.
Legislators had to run in back-to-back elections in 1992 and 1993 because of difficulties over redistricting.
A federal judge ordered the second election because of concerns about one person-one vote.
Opponents said changing the municipal redistricting timetable would mean some people aren't properly represented the next few years, particularly in cities that have grown by annexation.
"Everyone is entitled to equal representation," said Rep. Ed Blackmon, D-Canton.
House Elections Committee Chairman Tommy Reynolds, D-Charleston, said some cities aren't required to redraw ward lines this year. "This idea doesn't come from the far side of the moon," Reynolds said.
The bill allows the nine cities to hold elections in wards as they exist now and redraw ward lines in time for the 2005 city election. The bill cleared the House 101-16 Monday and moves to the Senate for further consideration.
The U.S. Department of Justice would have to approve the changes.
