The Knox County Board established an Ad Hoc Committee last night to look into the 10-year redistricting of boundaries.
With the census data expected in August, the county will need to look into reconfiguring the district makeup.
Board Chair Jared Hawksinson proposed the committee, which will be made up of board members Robert Bondi, David Amor, Rick Sandoval, and Cheryl Nache. Hawkinson will serve as the chair of the committee, overseeing the meetings and breaking ties if needed.
There will also be external, non-voting members on the committee that’ll include the heads of the two leading political parties in the county, State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin, and the County Clerk Scott Erickson.
The committee must present the redistricting map to the full board later this year so that it can be approved and filed with the state, according to Hawkinson.
“The county boards must complete the reapportionment plan of 2021 by the third Wednesday in November (17) in the year after the Federal decennial census year, which is this year. So, by the third Wednesday, we have to vote on the new redistricting maps.”
Should the board miss the deadline, a commission that includes Erickson, Karlin, and the political leaders of Knox County will decide the boundaries of the districts.
The board can also decide the rules of the board, changing out the Board Chair is elected, determine if they get paid, and how many members make up the board.
The board approved the commission 11-1 with Pam Davidson being the lone dissenter.
