Augusta commissioners approved an ad hoc redistricting committee Tuesday to represent the city for the 2020 Census, but one commissioner said the committee makeup was not fair and balanced.
Commissioner Catherine McKnight, who represents District 3, said her district is the fastest growing in the city and she felt she should have been a member of the body that will have input into redrawing commission district lines. McKnight also questioned whether District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson’s appointment creates a conflict of interest, since he’s chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party.
Commissioners Sammie Sias, Ben Hasan and Sean Frantom were also approved as members of the ad hoc committee Tuesday.
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McKnight’s comments were met with silence. Then, Hasan made a motion to approve the slate with Sias as chairman, but General Counsel Wayne Brown said the normal practice is that once a committee is appointed, the body selects its chair.
Hasan withdrew his motion and made another to approve the appointees which passed 6-4 with McKnight and commissioners Dennis Williams, Brandon Garrett and John Clarke voting no.
Richmond County’s entire redistricting committee will include 12 members, four each from the city, the Richmond County Board of Education and the local legislative delegation.
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The U.S. reapportions Congressional political seats, state House and Senate districts and local government districts every 10 years based on census data about population growth or changes.
Partisan politics plays a major role at all levels of redistricting, and sometimes it becomes so disputed a federal judge steps in and redraws the maps.
After Tuesday’s meeting, McKnight said, “Here we are talking about Hardie wanting this discrimination ordinance. And here we are with two new women on the commission who weren’t considered. It would be nice for a level playing field, which I don’t think it is.
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“You’ve got Jordan Johnson, the Democratic Party chairman. Is that a conflict of interest in redistricting? Obviously, they don’t think so. My concern is that there needed to be more equal opportunity.”
Afterward, Clarke said, “Another committee hijacked. The ones who did not fall for it were Catherine McKnight, Dennis Williams, Brandon Garrett and me. And so the rest of them approved another hijacking. It is what it is. We’re going to have to be at their meetings watching.”
Sylvia Cooper is a Correspondent with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com.
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