Supervisors name redistricting commission members

Washington County now has a temporary redistricting commission.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors named the five members to the commission who will determine county voting precincts and supervisor districts.

The five-member commission is made up of three Republican nominees and two Democratic nominees.

The three Republicans are Bill Poch, Chris Graber and Steve Swaffer. The two Democrats are Lorraine Williams and Harold Frakes.

Because all five supervisors are Republicans, they appointed the majority of the commission members.

Because there are no Democrats on the Board of Supervisors, the minority-party members were selected by the chair of the county Democrats, Kimberly Davis.

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. nominated Swaffer, Supervisor Marcus Fedler nominate Graber, and Supervisor Bob Yoder nominated Poch.

Supervisor Richard Young’s nomination, Patricia Lipske, was the odd person out, because she served on the last restricting commission in 2011.

Supervisor Stan Stoops did not make a nomination but said that it worked out well that the Democrats appointed Williams who is from Washington, which is part of Stoops’ district.

The supervisors named Poch, who is the former mayor of Riverside, as chair of the commission.

“I followed the (Riverside City Council) meetings and thought he did a good job chairing these meetings,” Yoder said.

Compensation for commission members was set at $25 per meeting and travel expenses will be reimbursed at the county rate of 39 cents per mile.

The commission must wait for the Legislature to complete redrawing state House and Senate districts and cities to set their districts based on census data.

In August, the commission will begin redrawing the county’s districts based on guidelines given by the state at that time.

Publication of the new district borders and polling places must occur three times by Oct. 9.

The new districts will become effective on Jan. 15, 2022.