03/29/2024
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By Sonny Jones

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners will meet again Tuesday to discuss redistricting after requesting another map be drawn by the Lumber River Council of Governments.

The board also plans a public hearing on proposed maps Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. Redistricting must be completed by Nov. 17. Filing for the 2022 elections is from Dec. 6-17, according to the N.C. Board of Elections.

The board met Wednesday afternoon in the Commissioners’ Room inside the Bladen County Courthouse to discuss six maps submitted by the Lumber River Council of Governments.

Government boards are required to review voting districts at the national, state and local level every 10 years following the release of the census.

The need to adjust district boundaries comes after the 2020 census showed population in District 1 dropped by just over 15%, according to County Manager Greg Martin. The variant needs to be between 5% and 10%, he told the board.

The census counted 29,606 people in Bladen County, which would call for 9,869 people in each of three districts. Districts can be within 5% to 10% of that ideal number.

Commissioners Michael Cogdell, an at-large representative, and District 1 commissioners Dr. Ophelia Munn-Goins and Arthur Bullock questioned Janet Robertson of the Lumber River Council of Governments about methods used to draw the six proposed maps. The trio also said they were unaware that three additional proposed maps had been drawn.

Board chairman Charles Ray Peterson said he had requested the additional maps. He also told members they could have a proposed map drawn if they chose. Cogdell requested an additional map be drawn.

Cogdell’s concern, especially on map proposals four, five and six, was that instead of taking portions of District 2 and District 3 to add to the current District 1 to bring the districts into compliance that proposed maps were drawn that adjusted all three districts. He also expressed concern about minority representation in the districts.

District 3 Commissioner Cameron McGill questioned whether Bay Tree Lakes, which is currently in District 1, would be better suited for District 3 because of similarities with White Lake.

The Board of Commissioners and Board of Education each have nine members with three elected at-large and two each elected from three districts. Each member serves four-year terms and seats are voted upon on a staggered basis. Commissioner elections are partisan and school board elections are non-partisan. Elections are held in even-numbered years.

Below are the six proposed district maps and statistics discussed at Wednesday’s meeting:

DRAFT ONE

DRAFT TWO

DRAFT THREE

DRAFT FOUR

DRAFT FIVE

DRAFT SIX

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