LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Former Republican Congressman Asa Hutchinson is representing the secretary of state's office in a lawsuit that claims new legislative boundaries dilute the black vote in an east Arkansas state Senate district.
Hutchinson filed papers Monday in federal court to appear on behalf of Secretary of State Mark Martin in the lawsuit filed by state Sen. Jack Crumbly and a group of east Arkansas residents. Crumbly filed the lawsuit against Martin, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Gov. Mike Beebe. The three make up the board in charge of legislative redistricting.
Beebe and McDaniel are Democrats and Martin is a Republican. Hutchinson ran unsuccessfully for governor against Beebe in 2006.
Martin voted against the redistricting map that is being challenged.
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