44th Avenue Extension Could Help Drive Redistricting Plans

The 44^th Avenue extension was the single item that seemed to drive controversy behind the county’s redistricting plan, designed to make elections fair by drawing political boundaries based on population and demographics.

While county commissioners were more concerned with clean lines and evenly distributed population that took growth into consideration, residents of the neighborhoods that will border the proposed 44^th Avenue extension were concerned about remaining in their current district.

Marianne Morris, who lives in the Wallingford neighborhood, said that she and several of her neighbors were there to urge commissioners to keep several subdivisions along 44^th Avenue in County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino’s district.

Residents from Wallingford and Highland Ridge said they want to stay in District 4 because DiSabatino listened to them when they opposed the road extension project.

But county commissioners reminded the residents that redistricting was not about personalities, rather it was about population and demographics and fairness to the entire community. Besides, they said, there is no guarantee that anyone on the board will remain on the board beyond their current terms.

“I am apprehensive about public input,” Commissioner Larry Bustle said at Tuesday’s work session. "We will have people say, 'I want to change a border because I like or don't like a certain commissioner.' “

The county last changed its district maps in 2005 because population growth in the county had made the old district obsolete. As growth continues in the east and north, the county has to consider drawing lines that accommodate a rise in population in those areas and stagnant population in the west.

County staff offered two proposed maps during Tuesday’s work session, and based on feedback from the commissioners and from the public, they will design a third map for consideration before the county holds a public hearing on redistricting.