Redistricting Hearing, Vote Set For June 20; Activist Fears Brandon Split

UPDATE:

Proposals for new county commission electoral boundaries split the Greater Brandon area into as many as three different districts and could hurt a unified approach to future development in the area, according to longtime civic activist Lisa Rodriguez.

“I work hard to make sure Brandon has a voice and then to see something like this, it just makes me angry," said Rodriguez, a one-time candidate for the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioner and the current honorary mayor of Brandon. "I don’t think they would do it to any other community. I am tired of Brandon not having a voice and this just makes it harder but perhaps that’s why they are doing it.”

County Commissioners will vote on the redistricting proposals after a public hearing set for 6 p.m. tonight, June 20, at the Fred B. Karl County Center in Tampa, at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The vote comes after a series of public meetings, held countywide over the past two months, on the . Under federal law, election boundaries must be reviewed, and changed if necessary, every 10 years to account for population shifts.  

Four of the seven county commissioners are elected in geographic districts. The remaining three are elected countywide.

The Greater Brandon area, including Bloomingdale and Riverview, currently falls within District 4 and is represented by Al Higginbotham. The area could be split into two, even three, separate districts depending on which electoral district map the county adopts.

“I think there are merits to both sides,” Higginbotham said in an interview before tonight's meeting. “Many people like multiple elected representatives in their area. I enjoy and feel privileged to represent Brandon."

He added that there are 10 proposed boundary maps being considered "and I am anxious to hear from the public and fellow board members tonight. I think we will have an in-depth discussion tonight and hopefully we will have a final conclusion this evening.”

Rodriguez said she is worried also that the Brandon Community Plan will also lose momentum if the area is split into different districts. The community plan is a guideline for future development of the Greater Brandon area, including Bloomingdale, Dover and parts of Riverview. It was developed after more than two years of public meetings and consultations with community leaders.

The vision for the community’s future was adopted by the county in 2010 and calls for a combined approach to development, roadways and cultural resources.

But splitting up Brandon’s electoral districts will only serve to dilute the intent of that plan and fragment the community further, said Rodriguez, who was involved in developing the community plan.

“Don’t split us into different districts along Bloomingdale Avenue, Lumsden Road or State Road 60," she said. "That divides us into commercial and residential areas. If we were a city I don’t think they would be doing this. They need to leave us all in one district or totally move us to another district.”

Drawn by county staff, the proposed election districts contain no dramatic changes, according to Edith Stewart, who is overseeing the project.

“We are not here to reinvent the wheel,” she said in an . "We just want to make sure the boundaries meet the legal tests.”

One of most important of those legal tests is the federal Voting Rights Act. Under that act, District 3 was created to be a “minority district.” Keeping that district intact was one of the priorities for county staff when they drew up the proposed new boundaries.

Keeping recognized communities – like Brandon – in one district was also a top concern.

Brandon concerns might not be the only one before the county commissioners tonight when they consider new electoral districts. Some Hispanic groups are also mobilizing to have a greater say in county government, according to Tampabay.com.

The county does not have the final say on the proposed boundaries. Any decision must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for approval.

RELATED COVERAGE: