Citizens voice concerns over BMT redistricting - KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

It was a packed house in the Beaumont Council Chambers Tuesday night as residents voiced their concerns about redistricting. 

By law, the population in the city's four single member wards must be as even as possible. And the most recent census shows that wards one and two are overpopulated, while wards three and four are underpopulated. 

Councilman Mike Getz became vocal about the topic this week saying he could lose voters who don't want to change wards. 

Several voters from ward two spoke in Getz favor saying they don't want to lose him as councilman. 

But others told city council all they wanted for the city was equal representation no matter how it gets done. 

Council members have five maps from which to choose. After the public hearing, Mayor Becky Ames said the council would seek a recommendation from the Austin Law Firm who is overseeing the process. 

Citizens are also allowed to submit their own maps until July 27th. Once council chooses a final map, it will be sent for review to the Justice Department.