REDISTRICTING

NARFE 2247 NEWS #37 stated that once every decade the States have a chance to change the shape of the Congressional Districts based on voting population. This is the year for Redistricting. A public hearing will be held at the News Journal Center at Daytona State College on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Some of our Ormond Beach Chapter members attended that meeting. An article “Voters seek compact districts” appeared the next day on the front page of the News Journal. Mr. Derek Catron did an excellent job of reviewing the Redistricting meeting. I hope you all had a chance to read his article.

There are two types of districts, Congressional and State Districts. Volusia voters have been divided into three Congressional and four State Senate and six State House districts. Thus right within our Ormond Beach Chapter we have two different Representatives representing us in the US Congress and it could be three in the future. More is not better! Less in this case is better. For example John Mica lives in Winter Park (suburb of Orlando and78 miles away from us). We all know his interests are in trains and big business. By the way John didn’t think what Volusia people had to say was important enough to attend the meeting the other night in Daytona.

The Congressional districts are in a mess, but the State districts are even worse, if that is possible. Deltona is divided up into two US Congressional districts, two State Senate, and four State House districts.

The most glaring problem at the Tuesday meeting was that the politicians were not prepared. They had nothing but excuses. The people came hoping to see at least suggestions, if not plans.

We went away disappointed.