Jamieson expresses concerns regarding Reapportionment

Toccoa’s Vice Mayor Jeanette Jamieson has expressed concern regarding the General Assembly’s upcoming Special Session for Reapportionment following the recent completion of the 2020 Census.

Jamieson says in her experience, small counties are in jeopardy of losing political influence during the reapportionment which could be devastating for Stephens County.

“The General Assembly is going to meet in a Special Session in August to consider reapportionment, and it’s always a battle. I don’t know if the Development Authority is going to but they’ve always gotten involved before and the local Chambers to birddog that process. I don’t know what the plans are to get involved with our State Representative and State Senator. But almost every time reapportionment is considered, following a census, small counties are in jeopardy. We don’t stop and think, as a county of 25,000 people we have much more political influence than if we were a county of 12,500 people, and that’s what we’ve had to guard against in the past,” she said.

During the recent Toccoa City Commission meeting, Jamieson asked the Commission to consider adopting a resolution at a forthcoming meeting, addressing reapportionment.

“We don’t intend to tolerate our county being split. When I found out we were having special session in August, and having been through that bloodletting before, I was very concerned. I think that during our next meeting, we should adopt a resolution addressing that matter. Otherwise, if we sit by and say nothing, we won’t be the squeaking wheel and we will be sorry when the whole things over. They’ll have to move some population figures around,” she said.

Jamieson said during the last Census Reapportionment, a portion of Habersham County’s south end was cut.

“The last time, they took a certain number of the south end of Habersham County. I don’t want them taking a certain number off of the western side of Stephens County. It’s hard enough for a small county to hold their own. I would just appreciate very much if you would get in touch when them and let them know that we would appreciate them protecting our lines,” she said.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.