By MELISSA PEACOCK

RESERVE – “Once I get my feet entrenched in this thing – then I will decide (whether or not to run for election),” Phillip Johnson said recently after he was selected to finish the term of former St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member Clarence Triche. “Right now, I just want to do the best I can with the little bit of time I have.”

This week, Johnson, and all other potential candidates for board seats, was told he will have plenty of time to mull over the decision to run. Just before qualifying was set to begin, board members were told they could not qualify without U.S. Justice Department approval of the new redistricting plan.

Now, Johnson’s three-month term could last until April, if not longer.

District lines are redrawn about every 10 years to account for population changes recorded in the U.S. Census. The approval of the 2002 redistricting plan was delayed earlier this year when Justice Department officials discovered an earlier parish redistricting plan had never received pre-clearance from the department. The department officials told the board the original plan had to be approved before the new plan could be considered. The St. John Parish School Board is one of almost 20 school boards in the state that will not qualify for the October election. Board members were scheduled to qualify for elections this week. Qualifying began Aug. 21 and ended Aug. 23 at 5 p.m.

“The superintendent gave me a call Tuesday and left a message,” Johnson said. “We knew that it would take some time (to get the plan approved) but we really did not know about the cancellation.”

In light of the delay, Johnson has vowed to make the best out of his term in office – no matter how long it might be.

“I think it affords me an opportunity to let people know who I am and what I am about,” Johnson said.

District 6 School Board member Charles J. Watkins told the School Board more than a month ago he did not believe the Justice Department would approve the new redistricting plan. Watkins said he was not surprised when he was told the board would not be allowed to qualify for the election.

Watkins said he was contacted by a member of the Justice Department concerned about the decline in minority voters in District 6 under the new redistricting plan.

“In my district it (the percentage of black voters) was around 64 percent 10 years ago,” Watkins said. “It dropped to 54 percent. They (the Justice Department) are concerned with that 10 percent drop.”

On Aug. 14, some parish residents filed a lawsuit against the School Board. The lawsuit alleges the new redistricting plan dilutes the voting strength of minority voters in some districts. The lawsuit could further delay school board elections.

Although Watkins is not in support of the new redistricting plan, he believes the lawsuit has more to do with political agendas than with the constitutionality of the new redistricting plan.

“It is just some people dissatisfied with the redistricting,” Watkins said. “They would like to see the lines redrawn to see themselves and their friends elected.”

Until elections can be held, the current board members will continue to hold their seats.