Politics & Government

Council Discusses Potential Redistricting

The Town of Leesburg may shuffle election districts due to 2010 Census data

At its work session Monday night, the Leesburg Town Council discussed potential changes to election districts and precincts, based on new data.

The town’s population, based on 2010 census number, is $42,616 – four less than Blacksburg, according to Town Manager John Wells.

“Based on the numbers … Leesburg is too big for a single district,” said Vice Mayor Kevin Wright.

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The challenge is keeping the community cohesive. “The question becomes less of are we one district, but where do we draw the line,” Wright said.

Council Member Katie Sheldon Hammler said though there is the opportunity to split the town up, it was important to do so in a way that preserved the cohesive “Everybody knows we are part of one cohesive municipality,” she said.

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But the town will need to lose a number of people from its election districts in order to be in line with county guidelines.

“We’ve got to lose potentially 4,000 people,” said Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd.

Wright said that district confusion could add to voter confusion if a potential referendum to move town elections to November goes forward.

Council Member Kenneth “Ken” Reid brought the issue up for discussion Monday night, and he summarized the council’s postion in this way — whatever precincts split should be all in town or all out of town.

The council will discuss several issues tonight, including an amendment to the town’s cigarette tax, flood protection portions of the town’s zoning ordinance and form-based code.

The agenda can be viewed here.

Editor Christian Brown will live blog tonight’s town council meeting, beginning at or around 7:30 p.m. Look for it at www.leesburg.patch.com.


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