Editor:
As a Bryan County voter, I want to respond to the new redistricting maps now submitted by the Bryan County Commission for state approval. (See Bryan County News of January 20, 2022) My issue is not with the result but with the process. We are fortunate to have able and civic-minded commissioners. That may not always be the case. Thus process becomes crucial.
First, I commend the Bryan County Commission for what appear to be voting districts as fairly divided and as contiguous as possible in our county, bisected by Ft. Stewart.
According to Chairman Carter Infinger, the commission hired Taylor English Decisions, a Cobb County, Georgia firm with extensive experience, to draw the new maps. Infinger said the commission took a hands-off approach so there would be no question of gerrymandering and bias, reaffirming his commitment to a “fair and transparent process”.
While I believe the new districts to be fair, which is the most important goal of good governance, transparency is another matter. With no opportunity for citizens to see the maps as they are being redrawn, there is no transparency. And without knowledge of the consultants hired to draw the maps—in this case a firm associated with a controversial former state representative— there is opportunity for unwanted outcomes. Fortunately for all of us, our maps seem equitable and proportionately drawn. My issue is not with the outcome but with the process. I am concerned about the lack of transparency in the General Assembly’s redistricting process. The rushed scheduling has made it difficult for the public to see and have input on county commission and school board maps that will be in effect for the next decade. And their decision to bundle counties for voting increases the difficulty of addressing one’s local interests.
I strongly urge the General Assembly as well as our local delegation of elected officials to create opportunities for the public to share concerns and give input on these maps.
Independent redistricting commissions have proved helpful in many states in addressing gerrymandered and unfair maps. This would be a step in the right direction for Georgia Local redistricting is critical to ensuring voters have a fair voice in how resources are allocated and in how Bryan County is governed. Because of the explosive growth here, we have the opportunity to profit from the richness of our neighbors’ experiences as we build our future together.
Transparency includes the people.
Rena Patton, Richmond Hill