Council now has two more proposals to look at; the newest one is from private citizen Emory Turner who left out school board members.
"We missed the school board because I was looking at City Council," Turner said.
Turner said he will add school board members to his map and bring it back to City Council. City Clerk Denise Jordan said her reapportionment would meet soon and consider Turner's map and Map 3 from the school board.
Board members do not run for election like council members who run at large, city wide. They run in their districts, and voter make-up is a bigger issue.
Redistricting consultant Drew Whalen advised council members to meet with the school board.
Ward (4) Board member Delores Diaz said the Board has not met yet to consider Map (3), but she said she supports it because the majority minority Hispanic population was preserved and that was her goal.
"I would appreciate the opportunity to work as a school member to work with you, the City Council to look at both of those plans and see what might serve us all the best," Diaz said.
With time running out City Council wanted to vote on redistricting Tuesday. Council member Myrtle Figueras said there's a bottom line to all of this.
"I want everybody who lives here, be they black, white, blue, green or purple to be able to vote," she said. "I think we've gotten so far into politics until we've forgotten about people."
A LETTER TO THE STATE CAPITAL
City Council members agreed to send an appeal letter to Governor Nathan Deal about state redistricting. Mayor Pro Tem Danny Dunagan said the state maps are not favorable to Gainesville and Hall County.
"This letter will voice our concerns about going from a five member delegation to nine," Dunagan said.
Dunagan and Mayor Ruth Bruner added the state's redistricting leaves Gainesville Hall with less state representation because some representatives are from Toccoa and Gwinnett County and would not represent the city and county well. Council also agreed to send the letter to Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston, and local legislators.
Turner said he will add school board members to his map and bring it back to City Council
Map (4) made its first appearance Tuesday before City Council
Ward (4) Board member Delores Diaz said the Board has not met yet to consider Map (3), but she said she supports it
Mayor Pro Tem Danny Dunagan said the state maps are not favorable to Gainesville and Hall County
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/8/241153