We’re halfway through November and already it’s been a big month in Sarasota for hot political issues. The City Commission turned down the Selby Gardens Master Plan. The School Board held a hearing regarding how Superintendent Todd Bowden handled the sexual harassment complaint against COO Jeff Maultsby (who resigned). The Sarasota County Commission approved protecting public lands adjacent to the Celery Fields. But there’s more to come! This Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Sarasota County Commission will hold another hearing on redistricting.

Redistricting, or redrawing Sarasota’s County Commission district maps, is the County Commission’s answer to Single Member Districts. County voters approved a change from At-Large voting to Single Member Districts for County Commission seats last year.

Redistricting, or redrawing Sarasota’s County Commission district maps, is the County Commission’s answer to Single Member Districts. County voters approved a change from At-Large voting to Single Member Districts for County Commission seats last year.

The change from At-Large to Single Member District voting makes Commissioners more accountable to voters. With At-Large voting, registered voters in Sarasota vote for the Commissioner who represents their district as well as the Commissioners who represent each of the other 4 districts. The current County Commission argues that At-Large voting provides voters with greater power, because they are choosing all five commissioners. But At-Large voting diminishes citizen power by making it difficult to vote out commissioners who are poor performers. The ballots of actual district residents for their district County Commissioner election are only 20% of the total ballots cast when all County voters choose every single County Commissioner. North Port voters don’t keep track of how a Commissioner representing Newtown performs on Newtown issues, and vice-versa. With Single Member District voting, only district voters select their district County Commissioner. Siesta Key voters decide whether change or keep the Siesta Key Commissioner, and so on.

At-Large voting requires campaigns to reach the entire County (population 426,000). It’s almost like running for Congress. At large voting stacks the deck in favor of dark money candidates. Single member districts levels the playing field by reducing campaign coverage to a manageable size (population 80,000-85,000).

Now that Single Member Districts have passed, the County Commission is working overtime to redraw existing districts. Enhanced accountability may imperil incumbent Mike Moran’s re-election in 2020. Mr. Moran voted against his district constituents’ interests in 2017, when he supported a waste transfer facility next to the Celery Fields. Critics believe the Commission is gerrymandering to protect Moran’s seat.

Citizen activist R.N. Collins (trained in statistical analysis) shows the County’s second set off consultant numbers continue to be deeply flawed. The County wide Hispanic population is underestimated by 30%, and the African-American population underestimated by 20%. North County is under-counted, South county over-counted.

If the County proceeds, litigation may be on the horizon. At the last redistricting hearing, a court reporter was present. African-American leaders cited case law and urged the County Commission to wait until the 2020 census. A good idea, because once the 2020 census is complete, the Sarasota County Commission will be required by law to take up redistricting again.

Commissioners, you’re on a roll! You protected the Celery Fields. Listen to your constituents and stop redistricting.

Cathy Antunes is host of The Detail.