Chuck Williams vows to stay the course on Redistricting

Athens is getting closer to having . The plan that will be submitted for federal approval is being drawn by Athens legislators in Atlanta, with no public input from the Athens community.

The bill does away with the at-large super districts. Instead, it provides for 10 single-representative districts. The Georgia Senate passed the bill by a vote of 46 to 6. Those opposing Senate Bill 494 included Democrats Jason Carter , Steve Henson, Vincent Fort  and Gloria Butler, and Republicans Steve Gooch and Fran Millar.

One representative, Republican Chuck Williams of Oconee County, that he won't vote for the plan submitted by Republican senators Bill Cowsert and Frank Ginn in Senate Bill 494. Along with the other Georgia House members from Athens, Williams did sign the legislation on Tuesday and it advanced to the House.

Williams said he signed the bill so that it could move forward. He did so, he said in a press release, because if the bill were handled as general legislation, it would result in a further time crunch for getting federal okay for the plan.

Williams continues to say that he won't vote for the bill's passage, because he's a proponent for local control. In a press release, he said the map going forward "doesn't reflect Athens-Clarke County's wishes for its redistricting."

He acknowledges that the ongoing reapportionment and redistricting process has caused some disagreement within the Athens-Clarke County Delegation.

"I truly hope that we can move ahead and put this saga behind us as we focus on the best interests of our community,” Williams said.