Good afternoon District 4 residents!

I wanted to take a moment and explain the new commission districts and how the new map came about. Every ten years our country does a census and based on the data returned, the state of Georgia requires local governments redraw their commission districts based on population changes. New district lines must be redrawn, so each district’s population is within 1% of each other. The county was tasked with creating a new map for recommendation to the local state delegation for review and approval. The Board of Commissioners created the map and successfully voted 5-0 in October 2021, and the Board of Education followed suit with their own 5-0 vote on the same map. The state delegation, however, did not accept the map we submitted and designed their own variation. I felt the entire process lacked transparency with no explanation about the different maps and no allowance for input by others. Having not been given any reason why the state delegation was making the changes, I expressed my distaste for what I viewed as gerrymandering and for putting politics above people. Our Board supported the state delegation’s revised map. I did not. And for the many of you who wrote to your state officials expressing the same, you have my appreciation. 

Please see the new commission district map from the state using the link at the bottom of the newsletter. As you can see, many of you are now located in the District 1 area. District 1 Commissioner Cooper’s term expires in 2022 and she will not be seeking reelection. Although the new map does not become effective until January 2023, any district with a scheduled 2022 election will use the precincts within the new map to vote. If you have been redistricted to District 1, you have the opportunity to vote this year. Be sure to check your voting precinct information, it may have changed, whether you were redistricted or not (find the link At Your Fingertips on my newsletter). Qualifying starts next week on Monday, March 7 through Friday, March 11. The primary election for Commission District 1 seat is May 24 and the general election is November 8. 

There is still much work to be done and many needs to be met, so I will press forward and continue to do what I’ve always done, serve the community. I will also work hard to learn all I can about the new District 4 area and their citizens - who they are and what their concerns are for the area.  And, as always, I will continue to work hard for all of you too. Please let me know if I can be of service.

Cindy

Cindy Jones Mills
Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, District 4
110 East Main Street, Suite 210 | Cumming, Georgia 30040
(678) 513-5884 office | (678) 230-3864 cell | (770) 781-2199 fax
forsythco.com | Your Community. Your Future.
Email:  cjmills@forsythco.com  

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