After a decennial census, counties must redistrict to make the districts equal in population where there are elected representatives.
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed a Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) that is tasked to have at least two proposed maps completed by Dec. 1.
Snowflake is in District 3, with Marlin Gillespie representing the area on the RAC, and Taylor is in District 4, represented by Alice Franco Anderson. Meetings were recently held in Snowflake and Taylor to secure input on redistricting from residents.
Gillespie and Anderson will take the input they receive from constituents to an RAC meeting and the information will be given to consultants, who will up draw the maps.
A second meeting will be held for constituents to view the maps and give input, then the RAC will meet again and make necessary changes to the maps that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for selection and approval. The selected map will then be submitted to the Department of Justice for approval.
Councilman Tom Poscharsky reported on redistricting at the June 28 Snowflake Town Council meeting.
The official 2010 Census population of Navajo County is 107,449, up from 97,370 in 2000, which is a 10.24 percent increase, making the ideal district size 21,490 persons. It should be noted that population is the total population, not the number of registered voters.
The 2010 Census population by current supervisor districts shows District 1 has 17,566 residents; District 2, 18,906; District 3, 22,010; District 4, 26,855; and District 5, 22,112.
Arizona is subject to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and must have approval by the Department of Justice. Districts 1, 2 and 5 are minority-majority districts, and must maintain their minority-majority status.
The RAC is asking for input from citizens. On the Navajo County website, www.navajocountyaz.gov, you can move borders and design districts, then submit them. Keep in mind that it does no good to draw a plan that is not legal, because it will be challenged by the Department of Justice.
