Although state

Sen. Donzella James is relatively happy with her newly drawn 35th District,

she will form an exploratory committee to find out if she should run for

a newly created congressional district.

The state Legislature

has approved and Gov. Roy Barnes has signed new state House and Senate

maps, and the Senate Thursday was expected to approve a new U.S. congressional

map. Redrawing the districts is an every-ten-year exercise designed to

keep population evenly distributed between districts.

James has her

sight set on the 13th congressional District, which meanders from Norcross,

down the perimeter highway into South Fulton, across the county line into

Douglas County and north to Marietta.

James would

live in the new district and said if the people want her to run, she will.

"I want

to make sure the citizens of South Fulton get their fair share in federal

dollars," she said.

If she chooses

not to run for Congress, James will represent a slightly different state

Senate district than she has in the past.

"I've

lost a lot of key precincts in East Point and Atlanta, but I picked up

areas in Douglasville and Lithia Springs," she said.

James said

her new district would still be diverse and she would represent her new

constituents with the same vigilance that has made her a popular figure

in South Fulton County.

In looking

at the overall redistricting picture, the senator had some sharp criticisms.

"I've

never been in favor of multimember districts. I think it dilutes black

voting strength and I think people should have one person they can go

to," she said.

James said

the state Senate map has already been signed by Gov. Roy Barnes and she

doesn't expect a court challenge to that map.

But, when it

comes to the state House and congressional maps, "I think we're going

to be tied up in court a long time. We need to come to some sort of agreement,

because nobody will be happy if the [U.S.] Justice Department draws the

maps," she said.

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