Feb. 23, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: The proposed amendment on the ballot for April 21 election has the butcher knife out for redistricting of the 11 congressional districts to allow the General Assembly to “temporarily” adopt new congressional districts to restore “fairness.” How “temporary” is “temporary”? Usually, temporary means permanent when it comes to the government. Federal income tax was temporary. What does “fairness” mean and to whom? Fairness is vague and indefinite and only someone’s opinion.
So you say it can’t be that bad. How far out there can it go? The deal is: Most of the Shenandoah Valley that is presently District 6 will be grouped with Northern Virginia. Augusta County will become part of the same district as Arlington, densely populated with a median income of $140,000. Upper Shenandoah Valley will become part of the same district as Fairfax County, densely populated with a median income of $173,000. The wants and needs of Northern Virginia are not the same as the Shenandoah Valley. Their interests are not our interests. Their goals are not our goals. Redistricting opens up our area to toll roads, increased taxes and/or being utilized as an industrial zone for solar farms, wind farms, etc. Rural Virginia will lose its voice.
By voting no to redistricting of the congressional districts this April 21, we won’t be subjected to the wants and needs of Northern Virginia, and we won’t be somewhere out there circling Jupiter. A no vote means rural Virginia will have a voice. VALARIE LUND Rockbridge County
