CLARIFICATION (5:57 p.m.): The phrase "materially unbalanced" was stricken from the bill approved today.

The Houston City Council punted on the issue of whether to draw new council districts, voting today that the current districts are not "materially imbalanced" in support of using the 2010 census for redistricting and sending the matter to a study committee. In carefully worded rhetoric at City Hall, the mayor and council members praised each other's efforts toward consensus while deciding the drawing of new district lines should wait until after 2010.

Yawn.

But to be fair to Hizzoner Bill White and crew, the issue of redistricting is dicey, with racial and political subtext, not to mention the question White hammered home: What's the legal thing to do?

Aside: While I know politicians never, ever act with self-preservation in mind, drawing new districts means a fresh distribution of power and could mean tougher races for the councilmembers themselves.

White said he'd ask for councilmembers' input for community involvement in the study committee.

It's something Houston citizens ought to follow (here's a summary of today's action over at Chron.com) and participate in however we can. Given Texas' history, we have good reason to be skeptical when politicians start talking about drawing lines on a map.

Read more on gerrymandering in Texas:

> NYT editorial on the 2003 Congressional redistricting, and a CNN report on the outcome of legal challenges to the plan.

And on the recent history of the redistricting debate in Houston:

> Off the Kuff update posted Jan. 31, and another in February 2007.

And the state and federal process for redistricting:

> A state-run Web site explaining redistricting at the state and federal levels.

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