How will Manatee be divided into 5 districts? A new map is in the mix before deadline
With less than two weeks to go before the redistricting deadline, Manatee County officials voted to replace one of the maps under consideration.
The Board of County Commissioners has held meetings over the past several weeks in order to draw new district boundaries using the latest census data. Because the population has grown rapidly since 2010, the county’s five districts have to be modified.
These five districts determine which commissioners represent you on the board. Two commissioners are elected countywide, but the other five commissioners are elected by the residents that live in their district.
In November, commissioners agreed to move forward with two maps — one created by their hired redistricting consultant and another drawn by Commissioner Vanessa Baugh. On Thursday morning, the board agreed to replace Baugh’s map with one that Commissioner George Kruse drew.
Speaking with his fellow commissioners, Kruse explained the reasoning behind his draft map, which he crafted alongside redistricting consultant John Guthrie to address several of the board’s previous concerns.
“I think, collectively with the help of the consultant, we met all of the things we wanted to do here, captured the bigger pieces of the consultant’s map while taking the essence of Map B for a better map for everybody,” Kruse said.
What does the new redistricting map look like?
The new map places fewer residents in Districts 1 and 5. In previous meetings, Guthrie said the board could take that approach, especially with data from the Building and Development Services Department to support the rapid growth and construction of new homes.
Kruse said he made an effort to create districts with special characteristics. The vast majority of Manatee’s coastline has been placed in District 3 to create a coastal district. All of the Lakewood Ranch stewardship district sits within District 5. In District 1, most of the county’s agricultural land has been added to create a rural district.
Commissioners Baugh, Kruse, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher voted in favor of replacing Baugh’s old map with Kruse’s proposal. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore voted against it. The map will be posted in public spaces throughout the county and online in the coming days.
Kruse’s map came as a surprise to commissioners who said they would have preferred to see the map drawn and discussed during a public meeting. County Administrator Scott Hopes said he suggested for Kruse to work with Guthrie on a new map after hearing concerns about Baugh’s proposal in recent weeks.
But board members said they were under the impression that the final two maps were the ones that they would discuss during a final redistricting meeting on Dec. 14. The new map undoes all of the comments that had been sent in before Wednesday morning, they said.
Board members question redistricting transparency
“What I don’t like is that I’ve had three town hall meetings, and I’ve talked with a lot of people and told them that the changes would happen during a public meeting on Dec. 14,” Servia said.
“We’re supposed to put everything in front, and in this situation, I don’t think we did that,” Bellamy added. “Here we are in the ninth hour, and we’re changing. This is so hypocritical and deceiving.”
While commissioners didn’t approve of the process, most of them agreed that Kruse’s new map was a better alternative than the map that Baugh proposed in November.
“This is better than B, so I have no problem replacing it with this,” Van Ostenbridge said.
Baugh also praised Kruse’s effort to improve the map she shared with the board. Kruse’s new map increases the minority representation in District 2, which has been a key concern for community leaders.
District 2 is the only district in Manatee County that is made up of mostly Black and Hispanic voters. Because of that majority, the district is protected by federal law, preventing commissioners from “diluting” the district by significantly lowering the percentage of minority voters.
Kruse explained that he did his best to expand the district while keeping the minority population in mind, adding that it would be impossible for the board to approve a map that is perfect for everyone.
“The problem with doing map is there’s too many variables and they don’t all match. Doing maps is almost like a Rubik’s cube,” said Kruse, referring to the handheld block puzzle. “You think you’re going to get to the red side, but as soon as you turn something to the red side, you turn around and realize you’ve screwed up the blue side. The only difference is that a Rubik’s cube can be solved and a map can’t.”
When will redistricting be discussed again?
Commissioners will continue to discuss the proposed maps during a special meeting at the county’s Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton on Tues., Dec. 7.
Additional town hall meetings will also be held next week. Servia is set to host a District 4 town hall meeting on Tues., Dec. 7 at the Harbor Life Church, 3321 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton. Bellamy will also host a District 2 town hall at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton on Wed., Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.
Board members are aiming to have a final redistricting map approved by Dec. 14. State law requires a redistricting map to be shared with state officials by the end of the year.
