The state Senate tentatively approved a bill tonight to redraw Mecklenburg commissioner districts, paving the way for the Republican-led General Assembly -- and not the Democratic-leaning county board -- to set the new election lines.

A third reading on the bill is set for Thursday. If approved, the measure would move to the state House.

The map being considered by state lawmakers was drawn by four Republican members of a redistricting committee set up earlier this year by commissioners. They called it a blend of other plans considered by the board and "minimizes the change from the current districts."

But Democratic county commissioner Dumont Clarke said asking the legislature to step in was "raw politics" and believes the Mecklenburg board should decide the county lines.

"I think it ought to be done by the level of government that is closest to the people," Clarke said. "There's no reason for it to be done in Raleigh other than to draw a map that would favor Republicans."

The county's redistricting committee met several times in recent months to discuss how to redraw the local election lines and recommended four maps to pass on to commissioners for consideration.

In a joint statement, committee members Bryan Holladay, Larry Shaheen, Lee Teague and Mike Walker said they were concerned about one of the maps that would split residents of southern Mecklenburg towns into two districts. They felt doing so could dilute the voices of residents in those towns on the county board.

Currently, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville all are part of District 6, which is represented by Republican Bill James.

But one of the four plans the committee plans to submit to commissioners would move Pineville into District 5, which is also represented by a Republican. The plan, known as Stetson 5, also would move some areas near South Boulevard out of District 5 and into 6.

"Over the course of last week, it has become apparent from email discussions on the four plans agreed to be sent to the Commissioners for consideration that the Democrats real intention was to use their majority on the Committee and the Commission to influence the type of Republican elected from this district," Holladay, Shaheen, Teague and Walker said in a statement issued today.

Currently, there are two main ways of drawing county election lines: the board of commissioner could pass a resolution setting the lines, or the General Assembly could approve legislation doing so.