Commissioners’ math doesn’t add up on Redistricting

Ordinance redistricting County Council Districts questioned

NEW ALBANY, December 7, 2021 –Floyd County Democratic Party Chair Adam Dickey issued the following statement following a vote by the Floyd County Commissioners to approve the redistricting of County Council districts:

 “Tonight, despite their stated purpose of rebalancing County Council Districts to reflect the population of the 2020 census, the Republican County Commissioners approved a new county council map which codifies new districts with greater population imbalances than if the Commissioners had made no changes at all and left the current districts in place. In fact, there is an 11% swing between the populations in the new 1st District and the new 4th District alone.

 “The Commissioners didn’t even keep like areas together taking the most rural precinct, Franklin Township, and added it to the most urban council district covering downtown and midtown New Albany. Shrouding the changes in Floyd County’s population growth, the reality is this map jostles individuals unnecessarily and confuses voters who have become familiar with their district and their representatives. It places a higher value on those living in the County and works to nullify the voice of those who live in the city. It makes it harder for representatives to reflect the interests of their districts and, adding insult to injury, it was done with absolutely no transparency in a single Commissioner meeting.

 Earlier this year, local Republicans criticized changes to the Indiana State Senate map asserting that it hurt Floyd County’s voice in the capital. Yet, tonight, they took a page from the Indianapolis play book and did the same in County government. It confirms they are more interested in playing politics than doing what is right for Floyd County’s voters.”

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