• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
New posts

wrobert

Beach Fanatic
Nov 21, 2007
4,134
575
61
DeFuniak Springs
www.defuniaksprings.com
Andy, when you see the maps you'll understand it better.

3D would leave south walton with 1 commissioner.

How is that any different than what you have now? The sad thing is the south end has the numbers to make a difference, just too indifferent to show up at the polls. This weeks Herald had a letter from a south walton business threatening to band together and vote the commissioners out if they did not vote her way on the wedding issue, interesting thing, since the person making the threats rarely shows up at the polls. Maybe the group she is going to band together has a better record. Problem is under the current system, most is decided in the primary and south Walton is not made up of primary voters.
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,286
2,312
53
Backatown Seagrove
How is that any different than what you have now? The sad thing is the south end has the numbers to make a difference, just too indifferent to show up at the polls. This weeks Herald had a letter from a south walton business threatening to band together and vote the commissioners out if they did not vote her way on the wedding issue, interesting thing, since the person making the threats rarely shows up at the polls. Maybe the group she is going to band together has a better record. Problem is under the current system, most is decided in the primary and south Walton is not made up of primary voters.

That is certainly true. And a shame.
 

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,643
9,496
How is that any different than what you have now? The sad thing is the south end has the numbers to make a difference, just too indifferent to show up at the polls. This weeks Herald had a letter from a south walton business threatening to band together and vote the commissioners out if they did not vote her way on the wedding issue, interesting thing, since the person making the threats rarely shows up at the polls. Maybe the group she is going to band together has a better record. Problem is under the current system, most is decided in the primary and south Walton is not made up of primary voters.

Well we don't currently have any commissioners that reside in South Walton.
 

wrobert

Beach Fanatic
Nov 21, 2007
4,134
575
61
DeFuniak Springs
www.defuniaksprings.com
Well we don't currently have any commissioners that reside in South Walton.

C Jones lives in her district which is totally south of the bay. Both 3A and 3D leave that district totally south of the bay. 3A has one additional district which is part south and part north. 3D has two districts which are part south and part north. So explain, if you can, how 3D is not common sense, it gives you the possibility of having 3 sitting commissioners residing south of the bay. No other map does. So voting against 3D is actually voting against increased representation for citizens south of the bay.
 

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,643
9,496
C Jones lives in her district which is totally south of the bay. Both 3A and 3D leave that district totally south of the bay. 3A has one additional district which is part south and part north. 3D has two districts which are part south and part north. So explain, if you can, how 3D is not common sense, it gives you the possibility of having 3 sitting commissioners residing south of the bay. No other map does. So voting against 3D is actually voting against increased representation for citizens south of the bay.

Hmm, interesting how you state she lives south of the bay. I remember expense reports that showed a 30 mile trip into work. :scratch:
 

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,644
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Walton County redistricting meeting is next week - Wednesday, June 29 in Paxton at Ag Center at 2 p.m. Traveling from some South Walton locations will take over an hour so plan ahead. There are some nice little restaurants in nearby Alabama you might want to patronize before the meeting. Or consider a daytrip to see Florida's highest point at Britton Hill in Lakewood Park area near Paxton. The Ag Center is on the east side of 331. The Paxton High School is on the west side of 331.

Congressional, State and House redistricting meetings have also begun. Over 250 people attended area meetings in Ft. Walton Beach and Panama City. State and Federal guidelines are posted at www.FloridaRedistricting.org and the public is encouraged to comment and submit their own plans. Great information about redistricting rules. I particularly recommend a look at Population Over/Under numbers. Current maps of Florida Congressional, State House and State Senate are also easily accessible. A recent United States Department of Justice ruling has confirmed that where an incumbent lives cannot be considered. Having compact and contiquous districts are required. Having compact districts, as much as practicable, was a common theme at congressional and state seat hearings. You can see archived videos of these meetings at above website. Federal laws must be followed in this process. Unless properly and legally noticed, individual committee members could not hold a meeting on redistricting and all communication and emails are subject to open meetings laws.

Walton County Plan 3D does not meet basic redistricting guidelines as it is not compact nor contiguous and should be thrown out. Communities of interest are also divided. The other two plans are in compliance of meeting redistricting guidelines of One Person One Vote, following the Voting Rights Act of 1964 as amended in 1965, are compact, contiguous, and respect communities of interest to name a few.

South Walton has the numbers for two majority districts. People in South Walton have expressed a desire for two districts. The comment that South Walton people were clamoring for three is a mystery and a fable. When new numbers are collected for a possible odd year redistricting, which Walton County has done in the past, it is very likely that South Walton would have enough numbers for two complete districts. Check school numbers and add in a parent or two for some early indications. With just some minor changes to current maps, a fair and equal plan for all of Walton County can be achieved with South Walton having two majority seats, middle Walton with one, and North of Hwy 90 Walton two. District 5 is currently 5,000 people malapportioned. By just moving it back to close to its 2000 borders, equality can be achieved. Thank goodness we got a better census count in 2010 than we did in 2000. Everyone worked really hard to make that happen. Lets not let that hard work go to waste.
 

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,644
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Primary and General Election South Walton Voting

That is certainly true. And a shame.

South Walton has had an anemic PRIMARY voting record in the past. However, SoWal votes big in the GENERAL election, especially in Presidential Election years. Recently, local county commission races have only fielded Republicans so the election was OVER in the PRIMARY, thus North Walton that votes in bigger primary numbers determined recent elections. Even with early and absentee voting, that SoWal voters are crammed into a few voting precints (4) versus NoWals numerous precincts (29) may have some effect and certainly needs to be adjusted. In 2000, there were democrats and republicans in the primary and South Walton elected two commissioners in the general that actually lived in SoWal and respective districts, before and after the election. In the most recent election, some primary voting numbers progress was made. With new social media influence and extraordinary work by many, there is a great chance that South Walton will turn out in record numbers for both the PRIMARY election and GENERAL election. Maybe this is what some are worried about.
 
Last edited:

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,644
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Redistricting in Paxton today June 29 2 pm

Redistricting Meeting is Today, Wednesday, June 29th up in Paxton Ag Center on 331. With state redistricting in progress, maybe more have had a chance to review Federal and State laws that apply such as being compact and contiguous. South Walton has the numbers for two mostly SoWal like communities of interest districts. With district 1 being mostly SoWal, commissioners and school board members might show up at community events and hold and attend meetings that are important to South Walton residents. District 5 is 5,000 malapportioned. The plan 3D is a facade of possible 3 SoWal commissioners, doesn't maintain core of prior district and should be thrown out as it does not meet many redistricting standards.
 
Last edited:
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter