Relaxed requirements for mandated redistricting for the City of Gray resulted in a much easier task for city council members than previous years.
Prior to this year, the most recent redistricting for the city took place in 2013. The process takes place approximately every 10 years following the U.S. Census. With the municipal election coming up this fall, city officials were contacted by the Middle Georgia Regional Commission letting them know of the need to go through the reapportionment process.
Although the city’s population grew by less than 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, the city’s District 3 increased to the point it had a population deviation of more than 50 percent in relation to the target population.
District 2 had a population deviation in the other direction resulting in a negative deviation of 39 percent.
All five of the City of Gray’s elected officials and Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe traveled to the MGRC Office in Macon June 23 to work on a new redistricting plan for Gray. The District 2 seat is vacant due to the recent death of councilman Benny Gray.
Council members were assisted in the effort by MGRC Executive Director Laura Mathis and staff. The map is drawn on a big screen utilizing census blocks on an interactive map of the city.
In the past, it was required for the city to have a minority majority district, which had been a time-consuming issue. Mathis informed council members that was no longer in effect, and the only requirement was getting the population of the districts as close to equal as possible.
The purpose of the equalized representation is to ensure each person’s vote has the same impact. Gray’s population, according to the 2020 Census, is 3,436.
That made the target number for each district 859 people.
Council members worked with MGRC staff for approximately an hour and a half with the end product of districts that had deviations of less than 10 percent. The plan does not include a minority majority district, however, Districts 1 and 2 each have black populations of 39 percent.
Mathis said the next step, if council is satisfied with the population of the districts, is to follow the Charter Amendment process to adopt the new redistricting plan with the assistance of City Attorney John Newberry.
The goal is to complete the amendment process before qualifying, which takes place in August for the November municipal election.
