Smithfield Times News editor
Hardy Supervisor-elect JoAnn Hall campaigned, in part, for adding two more voting districts to Isle of Wight County.
Hall said the Windsor and Carrsville districts have had to be drawn so large geographically in order to keep up with the rapid population growth in the other three districts.
But other members of the Board are split on whether it would be advantageous or not.
The issue is coming to the forefront because the 2010 census begins in April — and is a determining factor on voting district borders.
Isle of Wight County currently has five voting districts — Hardy, Newport, Smithfield, Windsor and Carrsville.
Hardy, which includes parts of Smithfield, was designed to be the county’s majority minority district.
However, after the election of Hall, a white woman, many have said that Hardy is no longer a majority minority district. And with Brown’s loss, the Board of Supervisors also lost its only minority representative.
Smithfield Supervisor Al Casteen said that seven districts would increase the likelihood of a minority district and a minority representative.
“Given that Brown was defeated, clearly if you’re going to have a minority district in the foreseeable future, it will have to come from the results of the census and adding two districts,” he said.
Brown doesn’t know if changing the number of districts would affect minority representation.
It’s the county’s geography that makes it difficult, because there are many areas with “people in little pockets,” Brown said, adding that socioeconomic concerns, such as housing costs, also compound the problem.
Brown said changing the district boundary lines could allow for the creation of majority-minority district.
Besides, adding two districts would also increase the size of the school board and planning commission, he said.
“It would cascade itself.”
Read the entire story in the December 30 issue of the Smithfield Times. Papers can be purchased at newstands, or subscribe by calling 357-3288 or online at www.smithfieldtimes.com
