Politics & Government

Board of Elections Questions Submitted Redistricting Map

Submitted map did not meet city charter requirements, new map submitted

The redistricting that resulted from the 2010 Census results has come under scrutiny by the Lorain County Board of Elections and now a new map has been submitted.

A new map created by Joe Reitz on Aug. 16 has lines drawn along natural boundaries and street lines, as stipulated by the city’s charter.

Board of Elections director Paul Adams said he received the plans for redistricting on July 15.

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“We reviewed the city’s charter and it states borders are natural borders (such as streams, creeks, etc.) or streets,”  Adams said. “In our review, (the submitted maps) appeared to have been drawn by property lines. From our perspective it appears to be blatantly against the rules of the charter.”

Adams said that would be acceptable if the city’s law director, William Kerner, said he agreed the maps met the charter’s criteria.

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Kerner said on Aug. 16 he didn’t think the previously submitted maps did.

“Nobody had asked about it,” Kerner said of the previously submitted maps. He said the most recent maps use the center lines of streets, which is the way most of the old maps, as well as county and state boundaries, have been drawn.

The city’s met prior to Avon Lake’s city council meeting Aug. 16 to review the new map.

The committee was formed after the 2010 Census housing numbers showed an imbalance of housing unit distribution amongst the wards. The committee hit a glitch after an initial map was created without concern for where current ward representatives live. That map, if approved, would have meant Ward 4 Councilman David Kos in July 2012, rendering him ineligible to serve, per charter rules.

A second map, that would have , was subsequently approved.

Kerner said the most recent map redistricting will not affect the five candidates running for four ward seats in the November General Election.

“It’s really not going to change things as far as the candidates are concerned,” Kerner said.

Council has until the end of September to submit a final map to the Lorain County Board of Elections. 

Check back later to hear council members' comments on the situation. 


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