• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.

Redistricting Walton County

New posts
That was presented in map3. It was eventually replaced by map 3D when people wanted three commissioner's with some part of south of the intercoastal waterway as an area they represented. Map 4 is the Rees map I suppose.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I'd like to know, too. I had a doctor's appointment.
 
Bob Hudson said:
That was presented in map3. It was eventually replaced by map 3D when people wanted three commissioner's with some part of south of the intercoastal waterway as an area they represented. Map 4 is the Rees map I suppose.
Click to expand...

The committee voted to remove maps 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4A from consideration, leaving just the 3D map and the to be tweaked Rees map in consideration. The committee had created a few maps that were far superior to the 3D map.

I was surprised that Cecelia Jones' representative to the committee was aggressively against the 3A map and Mrs. Rees' maps. All of the people who showed up (it was a full house) were from South Walton and felt that the beach was best served by two core districts in South Walton, rather than just one core district encompassing the two distinct South Walton communities and the entire beach.

The outcome of the meeting was that they narrowed down the field to the two maps -- the one the committee had been prepared to vote to recommend (3D) and the community based map preferred by the citizens. The next meeting is scheduled for June 29, time and place to be determined.

I would encourage everyone to write to the BCC http://www.co.walton.fl.us/index.aspx?nid=112and School Board http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/board/members. Also, it may be worthwhile to contact Ken Little (litken@co.walton.fl.us and ask that he let the committee know you'd like the opportunity to provide input to the committee and ask that the next meeting be held in the evening.

Jim Rester, the committee chair, deserves a great deal of praise for keeping the meeting civil and allowing input from the floor (many of the committee members seemed quite hostile toward the crowd and repeatedly reminded us that they answered to the commissioners, not the people).
 
I just found out that the next meeting will be at 2 p.m. on June 29 at the Ag Center building in Paxton, which is on U.S. 331 next to the ball fields and City Hall.
 
Don't kill the messenger, but I would point out that the committee has held meetings in DFS, Santa Rosa Beach, and Freeport up to now.
 
Bonnie asked me to post this.

There are rumors flying around, untrue, about county redistricting. I am one of two South Walton representatives on the ten-member redistricting committee.

We have had four meetings, all publicized according to public notice requirements. We have studied Census numbers and multiple maps to attain the equality in population per district required by Federal law for county districts. The 2010 Census reflects 55,000 population in Walton County. In 2000, this was around 40,000. In 2000, to have equal districts required approximately 8,000 population per district.

That was the first time in county history that south of the Bay got a piece of a second district. Before 2000, there was one district south of the Bay. As a result of redistricting with a piece of District 1 coming south of the Bay, we got two county commissioners from South Walton. Lane Rees and Tim Pauls.

Now we must put 11,000 population in each district. We do not have enough population south of the Bay to reach 22,000.

There is so much more to redistricting that I would like the opportunity to speak to any group in South Walton, bring maps and numbers, to explain what an advantage it is to get a piece of a third district south of the Bay.

I am sorry to hear so many people buying into the ridiculous banter about gerrymandering by the north. To the contrary, North Walton should be opposing this vehemently. Having one complete district and two other districts coming into the south end of the county gives the opportunity to field three county commissioner candidates and three school board candidates.

South Walton has talked about lack of representation in government for the nineteen years I have lived here. This gives us more chances at representation than ever in our history.

Is there any group that would like me to present to them and get their ideas? Please send this to your entire email list and if anyone is on SoWal, which I am not, please post this.


Thanks,
Bonnie McQuiston
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter









Share this page




                               
Back
Top