The Macon County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 10, to discuss a proposed redistricting plan that would revise the structure of the board and how its members are elected. The meeting drew a full house of residents, local officials and community leaders, many of whom shared concerns about the potential impact on representation for smaller communities.
Currently, Macon County is divided into three districts. Districts 1 and 3 each have one representative on the board, while District 2 is represented by three commissioners. Under the proposed redistricting plan, each district would have one representative, and two additional commissioners would be elected at large by all county voters. The plan would also redraw district boundaries to ensure each district has an equal population.
Commissioner John Shearl, who represents District 1 and has spearheaded the redistricting efforts, called the current system unfair. “The way this county is structured right now, it’s unfair to the people of District 1 and District 3. People can run in District 2 every two years, but Districts 1 and 3 only get the opportunity every four years,” Shearl said. “I’m very passionate about this. I’ve researched this for about 10 years now.”
Many citizens voiced concerns that the new plan could dilute representation for smaller communities such as Highlands and Scaly Mountain in District 1, and Nantahala and Burningtown in District 3. Residents said they were worried that redrawing the districts and adding at-large seats would shift political influence away from rural areas.
Citizens at the hearing overwhelmingly encouraged the board to continue exploring alternatives to the proposed plan. Several attendees offered suggestions that commissioners said had merit and deserved further review.
Board Chairman Josh Young acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying, “I think there’s merit to the conversation of everybody in the county having the opportunity to run every four years. But I want to see a comprehensive study that involves other counties in our region. Maybe some consultants from the state board of elections. I’m not in a hurry right here.”
No final decision was made. The board said it would continue to accept public comments before voting on the proposed changes at a future meeting.
A full recap of the Board of Commissioners meeting will appear in the Feb. 19 edition of The Highlander.
- Josh Bryson
editor@highlandsnews.com