With two days remaining until the start of a qualifying period for Statesboro’s November election, officials haven’t identified a district map upon which to base the process.
      City Manager Frank Parker announced Friday that he has not yet committed to using the city’s current voting districts, after phone communications between he and a staff member with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) left open the possibility of approval for Statesboro’s recently updated district map.
      The new map, which was designed to equally apportion populations in each of the city’s five districts according to 2010 Census Data, must be granted clearance by the Justice Department prior to the applicant qualifying period – beginning 8:30 a.m. Monday – to be implemented in this year’s election process.
      “The individual reviewing our case has been working all day and has given us the indication that everything looks in good shape,” said Parker after the conversation with a government worker Friday evening. “We talked with [the DOJ staffer] about the development of the map, how it came about and what kind of public input it has received. He seemed very pleased.”
      According to Parker, the staff member indicated that he may continue reviewing the map Friday night and during the weekend to help meet Statesboro’s deadline. The effort prompted the city manager, who anticipated reaching a final decision by Friday, to remain non-committal through the weekend.
      “When starting the process, the [Georgia Municipal Association] told us that we had to redistrict prior to this election to have a fair election. We tried our best to do that,” said Parker. “Now, the Department of Justice is working with us to get the map confirmed.”
      “We have done our absolute best to get the new districts approved for this election,” he said. “I’m willing to wait because the new map is fairer than the current map. It is professionally, morally and ethically the right thing to do.”
      The current district map, a design the city would default to using if approval of the new map isn’t granted, was created to balance populations after the release of Census data in 2000.
      The most recent survey, released in April, revealed major growth in select areas of the city, once again skewing district populations.
      Federal mandates require populations be close-to-equal, and ensure that minority demographics are granted the opportunity for fair representation.
      The new map was developed to address those requirements, according to Mandi Cody, Director of Community Development.
      “The current map, which was a fair map in 2000, has unbalanced, overpopulated or under populated districts,” said Parker. “We need to use the new maps. But we can’t do that without preclearance from the department.”
      “I’m concerned approval will come too late,” he said. “But if we do get approval before 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, I will ask City Council to allow me to use the new district map.”
      If approval of the new district plan is not granted by Monday morning, the city will use the current map for the qualifying and election processes, said Parker.
      The new district map will be effective for all successive elections when, and if, it is approved.

      Jeff Harrison can be reached at 912-489-9454