Justice Department rejects Marion County school lines

BUENA VISTA - The U.S. Justice Department has sent notice to Marion County officials that it objects to the redrawn school board district lines in the west Georgia county. <br> <br> Justice Department spokeswoman Casey Stavropoulos said a letter was sent Tuesday to county officials spelling out the department&#39;s position. Details were not available. <br> <br> School Superintendent Richard McCorkle said he was notifying board members at a meeting Tuesday night. <br> <br> Probate Judge James Welch had indicated already that a special election would have to be held because the Justice Department decision was coming so close to Nov. 5 elections. <br> <br> McCorkle said Monday he believes ``the school board and legislature have done the best job possible&#39;&#39; in redrawing the district lines. ``The population in the county is 64 percent white,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Only one of five board members is black. <br> <br> Edward Tymes, former Marion NAACP chapter president, said the new districts based on the 2000 Census reduced the number of majority black districts from three to two, but greatly reduced minority strength in one of them from 59 percent to 52.29 percent. <br> <br> Four years ago, a white candidate defeated a black board member for that seat.