Meeting Set in Brandon on County Redistricting Proposal

Residents are invited to view the new proposed boundaries for Hillsborough County Commission districts at a public meeting scheduled for May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, Brandon.

The proposed boundaries for the county commission were released May 3. Drawn by county staff, the proposed districts contain no dramatic changes, according to Edith Stewart, the county’s director of client services, overseeing the redistricting project for the county.

The Hillsborough County Charter requires reapportionment of the County Commission's single-member districts, districts 1 through 4, every 10 years, when the U.S. Census is completed.

The charter mandates the districts have close to an equal number of voters. At the same time, federal election law requires that the minority vote not be diluted by the new boundaries.

As a result, the new boundaries must maintain at least a 39 percent black representation in District 3, which covers much of the heart of Tampa. Les Miller is the current commissioner for that district.

Once the new boundaries are set, they need approval from the U.S. Justice Department. Hillsborough County is under a federal consent order because of past gerrymandering.

The county commission is scheduled to make its final decision on boundaries June 20, following a public hearing.

The county’s redistricting web site contains detailed maps, a video detailing the process and an in-depth explanation of the issues involved in drawing up the boundaries.

Redistricting public meetings are set for:

• May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, Brandon

• May 24, 6-8 p.m., C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, 2607 East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa

• May 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Plant City Hall, 302 West Reynolds St., Plant City

• June 2, 10 a.m.-noon, Sun City Center Community Association, 1009 North Pebble Beach Blvd., Greater Sun City

Other important dates: 

• Public Workshop — May 24, 1:30 p.m., County Center, 2nd Floor Boardroom, 601 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Commissioner to discuss alternatives to proposed district boundaries.

• Public Hearing — June 9, 6-8 p.m., County Center, 2nd Floor Boardroom, 601 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Commissioners to discuss alternatives to proposed district boundaries.

• Public Hearing — June 20, 6-8 p.m., County Center, 2nd Flood Boardroom, 601 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Commissioners to adopt district boundaries.