Forward progress on redistricting the city ground to a stop Tuesday night when some aldermen requested more time to consider a new map the board had previously reached tentative agreement upon.

     Acting on the assumption the board had reached consensus as to new district lines, Wirt Peterson, a redistricting expert hired to help guide the city through the process, approached the city board at its Tuesday night board meeting. He requested authority to schedule a public hearing on the map, the first step in the process of officially approving a redistricting plan.

     Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron objected to moving forward without holding further discussion.

     “I’m not going to rush to judgment on this,” said Cameron, requesting another work session be held to discuss redistricting.

     Aldermen met in Jackson on April 20 for a work session with redistricting consultants who could redraw the lines for aldermen via computer, incorporating and immediately evaluating the legality of requests by aldermen.

     During a three-hour work session held that day, aldermen produced a map that no board member voiced objections to.

     Tuesday night, Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell pushed Cameron to support the map produced during the April 20 work session.

     “I thought you were happy,” Maxwell said. “What’s it going to take to get you satisfied?”

     “I was until I went and looked at some things,” Cameron replied.

     Maxwell continued to press Cameron, drawing an irritated response.

     “I’m talking about my vote, not yours,” Cameron said. “You vote your way, and I’ll vote mine.”

     Cameron declined to cite specific objections at Tuesday’s meeting, saying he preferred to discuss those at another work session.

     Ward Three’s Mary Wilson joined Cameron in objecting to the map produced at the Jackson work session. Wilson implied that during the April work session, the aldermen representing wards Four, Five and Six pushed through what they wanted with minimal input from other aldermen.

     Maxwell attempted to force a vote on the map, but the board eventually decided to hold further discussion, though no work session was scheduled.

     Peterson, who works with the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District, warned the board that his agency may have to increase the cost it’s charging the board for consulting services.

     “We set a budget and this has gone beyond what is anticipated for this,” Peterson said.

     Under federal law, all proposed redistricting plans in Mississippi must be submitted to the Department of Justice for preclearance. Once the plan is submitted, the Department of Justice has 60 days to determine if the plan discriminates against racial minorities. After the review period, the Department of Justice can provide preclearance, reject the plan or request more information.

     Brookhaven’s municipal elections take place next year and qualifying begins in January of 2013. Mayor Les Bumgarner has repeatedly reminded aldermen a plan must be precleared before the January qualifying period begins.