Mt. Vernon Register-News

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July 26, 2011

Board votes to reduce districts

Districts to decrease from 15 to 13 in Jefferson County

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Board will decrease by two members during the next county board election.

The board voted eight to six to reduce the County Board districts in Jefferson County from 15 to 13.

Board members met for a Committee of the Whole meeting directly before the regular board meeting to discuss County Board district reapportionment based on information from State’s Attorney Nicole Villani.

Villani said she believed the board could be challenged on the two maps chosen because the number of citizens in each district varied by more than 10 percent. She cited a court case for Madison County, Ill., in which the county board was challenged on that issue.

Board Chairman Robert White said the two maps chosen in a July 11 Committee of the Whole meeting, featuring seven and 13 members, were drafted and chosen with due diligence and honesty of all involved. He said if the maps were challenged by any entity, the drafting of reapportionment maps would then go to a commission made up of Democrat and Republican party members and other officials.

He said the two maps it was narrowed down to were chosen to prevent high election costs, unwitting voter fraud and voter confusion caused by split precincts.

If the board failed to file a choice, all county board members would run at large in the next election, White said.

Board member Don Rector said he preferred the seven-district map because of the urging of citizens to cut costs wherever possible.

Board member Curt Grothoff said he believed 13 members would better represent the county and keep from splitting the members between urban and rural areas.

White said he felt both maps were agreeable, but added he believed the standard was nearly impossible to satisfy in Jefferson County.

Reapportionment happens once every 10 years, coinciding with the United States Census.

County Clerk and Recorder Connie Simmons said the next election would be in November 2012.

The board also voted to keep County Board member salaries the same as they are now.

White said the board chairman is paid $1,000 per month, the board vice chairman receives $360 per year and $100 each time he must fill the absence of the chairman, committee chairs receive $360 a year and $50 for each meeting they chair, and committee members receive $360 a year and $20 per meeting attended.

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