Legislators Come to Athens to Hear Redistricting Discussion

Here's a play-by-play of the state's first hearing by the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee, which began at 5 p.m.

6:54 - Sen. Mitch Seabaugh is closing the hearings out, promising an "open process," and the "opportunity to participate."

6:52 - Two Athens Democrats, Ovita Thornton (who serves on the ) and Karen Solheim, wrap up the hearings. Thornton asks for future hearings to be scheduled later in the day, while Solheim hopes that the committees will take tonight's comments to heart when they draw maps in August.

6:45 - Still on break at Seney-Stovall Chapel, while legislators run the clock out on the 7 p.m. end time. 

Kelli Persons, who works for the League of Women Voters of Georgia, is passing around redistricting handouts and answering questions. "So far, this has been shown to be a fair process, but we have concerns, such as the fact that Anne Lewis, counsel for the state Republican party, is the general counsel for the redistricting process. Also, the fact that maps are no longer under the purview of the University of Georgia removes an academic and public service layer from the process."

6:32 - No more commenters. Legislators take a 10-minute break.

6:25 - Rep. Lane introduces another late-arriving representative, Ellis Black from the Valdosta area.

Doug Harmon, chairman of the Athens Libertarian Party is up. "I am the most underrepresented person here, so I appreciate the fact that Athens has two senators and three representatives."

6:22 - Tim Riley, who was the Democratic candidate for the 47th Senate District in 2008 and 2010 is up, calling himself a "victim of redistricting." 

"We have to have [districts] that mean something to our community. In Madison County there are more cows than there are people. Their needs are different than Athens-Clarke County's."

6:21 - Oconee County Democratic Chair Dan Matthews asks the committee to keep Oconee County whole when it comes to new districts.

6:18 - Randall Abney moved to Athens three years ago to retire. "Many reasons people retire to this city, as I did, is because of the University and because it is a Democratic city. I believe we should have our own Senator and two Representatives."

6:16 - One thing we haven't heard much about tonight; remember that Georgia is a Voting Rights Act state. In practical terms, that means that changes to district lines have to be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.

6:14 - Heard was the last person to sign up to speak, but others are signing up now to get their two cents in. First up, Rev. Keith Johnson, representing the SCLC. He encourages the committee to involve the community in the process. 

6:12 - Athens Representative Keith Heard is recognized. "I would hope that in this process, there would be be fairness, equity, and transparency." He also has some rhetorical questions for the committee.

"How will communities of interest be recognized in our neighborhoods? Will the lines make geographical sense? Will citizens have the opportunity, when we're in session in August, have the chance to ask questions?"

6:05 - Another disgruntled resident of House District 113. Currently, Athens is home two complete House Districts, Keith Heard's 114th and Doug McKillip's 115th District. The controversial takes in a small piece of Clarke County and all of Oconee County.

Senate-wise, Athens-Clarke County was contained in one Senate district until 2005, when legislators brought a small portion of the 47th district into Clarke County, raising the ire of a number of Athens residents.

6:03 - The controversial areas are clearly Rockdale and Clarke Counties tonight. Ivan Sumner of Athens. "I would be very disturbed to see Athens-Clarke County split up for political reasons." 

6:00 - Mark Farmer, Winterville City Council is up, reiterating complaints from Athens-Clarke County residents that they felt disenfranchised when the county was carved into two State Senate districts.

5:59 - Senator Robert Brown of Macon asks that the committee hold more hearings in rural areas of the state.

5:51 - Kidd: Athens voters "want to stay together and be represented together. Senate District 47 is not representative of our community. We're big enough that we can have one Senate district."

5:50 - Former state representative and Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd is speaking. "When you get less ten days' notice of a meeting, I don't think that's adequate."

5:49 - 2010 congressional candidate Russell Edwards is up to speak, asking legislators to provide more notice for hearings. He also asks legislators to be nonpartisan in their redistricting. "The last thing Georgia needs is a lengthy court battle."

He chides the committee members for not allowing any Democrats on stage.

5:46 - : "There's an old saying that, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think we have a good delegation. As a whole, they've represented the best interests of the citizens of our region."

5:42 - Larry Dendy of Athens, "I live in a small sliver of Clarke County that is in hosue District 113. We do not have the opportunity to be represented in the General Assembly by a resident of Clarke County. This is gerrymandering at its worst."

5:38 - After a brief request that legislators consider communities, not politics, from Oconee County's Lee Becker, an Athens resident is up at the podium. "I feel disenfranchised," by having the southern part of Clarke County assigned to Oconee's 113th House District.

5:35 - Rockdale County residents ought to be proud of their showing tonight. So far, we've heard nothing about Athens, and except for Chairman Davis' brief remarks, it's been all Rockdale County.

5:32 - Don Myer, president of the South Rockdale Civic Association, reiterates the calls to put the more rural parts of Rockdale into districts with their neighbors, instead of the more urban central part of the county.

5:29 - Oconee County Commission Chair Melvin Davis is at the microphone, praising Oconee County's current districts, and asking legislators to maintain the status quo. Right now, Oconee is home to one senate and one house district.

5:24 - A brief pause to introduce a few more legislators in the audience who showed up a little late, including Athens' own Keith Heard.

5:21 Ed Tracy, also from Rockdale. "We feel underrepresented. Rockdale County, ten years ago, was cut up like strips of bacon."

5:18 Johnny Brown, also from North Rockdale County, echoes his wife's sentiments and introduces several Rockdale County farmers in the audience.

5:15 Lynn Irvin Brown from Rockdale County requests that northern Rockdale be placed in districts with more rural areas in Walton and Newton Counties, as opposed to more urban parts of Gwinnett and Dekalb Counties. "We want to be grouped with like-kind populated areas, not big urban areas."

5:12 - Roger Lane, who chairs the House Apportionment Committee, is reviewing the process. Every ten years, after the U.S. Census is complete, legislators are tasked with drawing new districts for U.S. House, State Senate, State House, and Public Service Commission.

Public comment is going to be limited to three minutes per person.

5:09 - Legislators in the audience, about 15 of them, are being introduced.

While being introduced, Sen. Robert Brown (D-Macon) registers a "formal protest" because Democrats were not included in determining locations for  these hearings.

5:06 -  House Reapportionment Committe Chair Roger Lane starts the hearing off, noting that, "this is a different kind of meeting. Y'all will be doing the talking." 

On stage, representing the House and Senate Reapportionment Committees: Rep. Roger Lane, Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City, Rep. Doug McKillip of Athens, Senator Mitch Sebaugh, Sen. Charlie Bethel, and Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens.