Minority Concerns Raised At Redistricting Session

Groups representing minorities are telling a panel that's redrawing New Jersey's congressional districts not to forget them.

Thomas Jackson of the Garden State Bar Association told the redistricting panel Wednesday that the voices of black, Asian and Hispanic voters need to be protected.

The bipartisan commission hopes to reach agreement on a new map Wednesday.

The 13-member commission has been sequestered in New Brunswick since Monday, trading ideas on how to eliminate one of the state's 13 seats.

New Jersey is losing a House member because the population didn't grow as fast as some states in the south and west. The new map is likely to pit two congressmen against each other next November in a new so-called "fair fight" district.

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