Legislature Works On Drawing New District Lines
The legislative district served by state Rep. Susan Holmes would change somewhat in preliminary versions of district maps being considered by the General Assembly meeting in special session in Atlanta.
The new district would be renumbered from the 125th to the 129th and continue to include all of Jasper and parts of three others, Jones, Monroe and Butts. Similarly, the 25th Senate District, which includes all of Jasper and all or parts of seven other counties, would undergo relatively minor changes but retain its numerical designation. It is served by state Sen. Johnny Grant of Milledgeville.
Like most in the central to northern area of the state, the districts that include Jasper will shrink somewhat in area because of relative population density. The Constitution requires that various governmental entities have equitable population makeup, as determined by the census every 10 years. The purpose is to preserve the “one person, one vote” principle, and the legislature is currently in the arduous process of redrawing the various district maps to comply with the law.
Aside from the legislative districts, lawmakers must draw new boundaries for congressional districts, a task complicated by the fact that Georgia’s delegation will increase by one, going from 14 to 15 members of congress. Currently Jasper is in the eighth district that winds southward through Middle Georgia almost to the Florida line.
Though various proposals have circulated in the legislative halls, no proposed map of congressional districts has emerged for the public eye. It is considered possible, even likely, that Jasper could wind up in a completely different district.
Local government units also must be realigned to conform with constitutional guidelines, and the Jasper County Commission and Board of Education currently are at loggerheads trying to draw a map on which the five districts for each entity are identical, Rep. Holmes has told both bodies that the legislature will not approve a map with nonconforming districts. (See related story.)
Monticello City Manager Bob Schwartz said data on the city’s population distribution is incomplete but that no significant changes are anticipated in alignment of the city’s two council districts. In any case, he said changes could not be made in time to affect the municipal elections in November.
The new district would be renumbered from the 125th to the 129th and continue to include all of Jasper and parts of three others, Jones, Monroe and Butts. Similarly, the 25th Senate District, which includes all of Jasper and all or parts of seven other counties, would undergo relatively minor changes but retain its numerical designation. It is served by state Sen. Johnny Grant of Milledgeville.
Like most in the central to northern area of the state, the districts that include Jasper will shrink somewhat in area because of relative population density. The Constitution requires that various governmental entities have equitable population makeup, as determined by the census every 10 years. The purpose is to preserve the “one person, one vote” principle, and the legislature is currently in the arduous process of redrawing the various district maps to comply with the law.
Aside from the legislative districts, lawmakers must draw new boundaries for congressional districts, a task complicated by the fact that Georgia’s delegation will increase by one, going from 14 to 15 members of congress. Currently Jasper is in the eighth district that winds southward through Middle Georgia almost to the Florida line.
Though various proposals have circulated in the legislative halls, no proposed map of congressional districts has emerged for the public eye. It is considered possible, even likely, that Jasper could wind up in a completely different district.
Local government units also must be realigned to conform with constitutional guidelines, and the Jasper County Commission and Board of Education currently are at loggerheads trying to draw a map on which the five districts for each entity are identical, Rep. Holmes has told both bodies that the legislature will not approve a map with nonconforming districts. (See related story.)
Monticello City Manager Bob Schwartz said data on the city’s population distribution is incomplete but that no significant changes are anticipated in alignment of the city’s two council districts. In any case, he said changes could not be made in time to affect the municipal elections in November.