TCC adopts resolution concerning Georgia General Assembly’s Reapportionment, Redistricting

The Toccoa City Commission approved a resolution concerning the Georgia General Assembly Redistricting on Monday during its regular scheduled meeting.

As WNEG News previously reported, Toccoa Vice Mayor Jeanette Jamieson recommended the resolution during the Toccoa City Commission’s last meeting in June.

At the time, Jamieson explained that 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.

Toccoa Mayor Evan Hellenga read the Resolution prior to its adoption by the City Commission.

The Resolution addressed Jamieson’s main concern that it’s of vital importance for Stephens County to remain as one voting district to ensure that citizens of the City of Toccoa are afforded the benefit of unified representation in the Georgia General Assembly as provided by a single voting district.

Jamieson explained to her fellow commissioners that during the last Census Reapportionment, a portion of Habersham County 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.

Jamieson added that neither Senator Bo Hatchett nor State Representative Chris Erwin has been through the Reapportionment process.

A motion was made by Jamieson adopting the resolution with Commissioner David Austin seconding the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.

The Toccoa City Commission is asking its citizens and elected officials in Toccoa-Stephens County, as well as the Stephens County Development Authority, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and local political organizations to contact Hatchett and Erwin to voice support for Stephens County to remain as one voting district.