The Florida Legislature is back in session again to agree on newly redrawn congressional districts, and two representatives from Northeast Florida are promising a transparent process.
“There are no private sessions involving any of the decision-makers under this process whatsoever,” says Rep. Charles McBurney.
On Tuesday, the House and Senate redistricting committees will question staff who created the new base map. It includes a revamped District 5, which is represented by Congresswoman Corrine Brown. Instead of winding from Jacksonville to Orlando, it would take an east to west approach stretching from Jacksonville to Tallahassee.
“Hopefully this will be the last time,” McBurney says, referring to the redrawing sessions in 2012 and 2014.
The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled several districts are unconstitutional. Seven districts were named specifically, but changes could affect twenty-two.
Rep. Travis Cummings promises transparency.
“There’s been no input and no involvement from any elected official or legislator on any level for that matter in terms of this base map that has been produced at the Supreme Court’s request,” Cummings says.
The proposed new map will be sent to the full Legislature on Thursday.