Supervisors choose ‘least-disruptive’ redistricting map

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors approved the “least disruptive” of four maps developed by the Advisory Redistricting Commission in a unanimous vote on Dec. 14.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve said it from the get-go I am very much in favor of map one,” said Commissioner Valerie Starkey, who represents District 2.

Starkey added that she preferred map one because “it stays within the current parameters of the districts that we currently have,” she said.

The four draft maps included different district boundaries based on the 2020 Census, and were first presented to the supervisors in October.

Though redistricting must occur every 10 years, Assistant County Counsel Autumn Luna stated in November that the county’s boundaries weren’t really changed in 2010, and “haven’t changed in 20 years, maybe longer,” she said.

Tuesday’s adopted map does make one significant change, however. It places Point St. George and the Del Norte County Airport within the boundaries of District 2.

As a result, Supervisor Gerry Hemmingsen, who represents District 4, will not be eligible to represent that district during the next election cycle.

A portion of District 5 will also move into District 4, located between Elk Valley Road, Parkway Drive and Railroad Avenue.

Though there were no comments from the public during the Dec. 14 meeting, several community members, local groups and tribal nations weighed in their preference at previous commission meetings and workshops, all of which were tracked and considered during the redistricting process.

“You did a phenomenal job on this,” said Starkey, referring to members of the redistricting commission. “I appreciate all the work that you put into this.”