Members of the Augusta Commission have decided to back the redistricting map chosen by the Richmond County Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee. The committee was made up of four members each from the Augusta Commission, Richmond County Board of Education and local legislative delegation.
By a six-to-four vote, commissioners approved the map that was drawn by the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office in Atlanta without local input. Commissioners Sean Frantom, who chaired the ad hoc committee, Catherine Smith-McKnight, Brandon Garrett and John Clarke opposed using what has been called the “minimal change” map.
MORE: Redistricting Committee approves original map after months of meetings and public input
The 2020 census shows Richmond County population grew by 3% to 206,607 residents. That means the ideal, balanced district size is 25,825. However, District 3, represented by Smith-McKnight, grew by more than 21% and now has 31,316 residents.
A representative of the Summerville Neighborhood Association spoke to commissioners before they voted. Board President Maggie DeLoach reminded commissioners that SNA members spoke at several of the public meetings and were concerned about the further division of their neighborhood among districts.
“Currently, we enjoy a highly effective relationship with District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight and District 2 Commissioner Dennis Williams,” she said. “The opinion of our residents is clear. They wish to maintain the representation as is and desire to keep their community in line with the guiding principles of the redistricting process to maintain existing neighborhood boundaries.”
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Frantom had also voted in the Nov. 22 ad hoc committee meeting against referring the state-produced map to the full commission.
“As we went through the process, we quickly understood that we weren’t going to make everybody happy,” he said. “But I felt like we should have, you know, worked and seen it If we could have made a little bit of impact. I mean, yes, we knew we couldn’t make major changes, but the same respect could we move 200 votes here, 200 votes there, and at least kind of make, you know, a little bit fairer and more balanced.”
“You know, this has been an ongoing situation that we were hoping the redistricting committee would do their job and listen to the citizens of the neighborhoods that are being affected,” said Smith-McKnight. “And not just Summerville and Forest Hills. We’ve got other neighborhoods and districts being affected as well.”
MORE: Opinion: Redistricting controversy heating up in Richmond County
After the vote, DeLoach said they are looking at options.
“We’re just going to go back to the table and we’re going to think about what we can do in order to readjust this map. We’re not happy with it. We’ve talked about a lawsuit,” she said.
“I would say this is America, so, by all means, if that’s what you feel is necessary,” said District 4 Commissioner Alvin Mason, who was a member of the ad hoc committee. “But what is your true complaint? You got to ask yourself, ‘what is your true complaint?’ You live in the same place, your neighbors are the same, your taxes are the same… the only thing changes is, potentially, your representative.”
The Board of Education trustees still must vote on whether to follow the commission’s lead and accept the ad hoc committee’s recommendation. Elections Director Lynn Bailey, who advised the ad hoc committee during the process, expects that vote will be at the Dec. 15 regular meeting of the school board.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
