State Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville, plans to introduce a resolution this week that would prevent local bills — such as redistricting maps for county commissions and school boards — from being sent to general committees in the Legislature without approval from a majority of the local legislative delegation.
Rahman announced the resolution during a Tuesday news conference at the Capitol, during which Democratic legislators and commissioners from across Georgia blasted Republicans for redrawing local maps over the objections of lawmakers representing Democratic-leaning areas.
As required by federal law, county commission maps and school board maps are being redrawn based on the latest census results. The maps will remain in effect until 2030.
The Legislature normally defers to local delegations in approving local maps, but this year Republicans redrew the maps of two suburban Atlanta county commissions that recently flipped to Democratic control — Gwinnett and Cobb — as well as Augusta-Richmond and Chatham County, which includes Savannah.
“People in our counties send us here to do a job, which is to carry out their will, protect their interests,” said Rahman, who chairs the Gwinnett delegation in the state Senate. “This is exactly what we want the ability to do.”
Gov. Brian Kemp last week signed the new Gwinnett commission districts map.
Gwinnett, the second-largest county in Georgia by population, is the most diverse county in the Southeast. In the past four years, its commission has flipped from totally Republican to totally Democratic. Republican legislators redrew the map that the Democratic majority of the Gwinnett delegation introduced, creating a Republican-leaning district.
As required by federal law, county commission maps and school board maps are being redrawn based on the latest census results. The maps will remain in effect until 2030.
The Legislature normally defers to local delegations in approving local maps, but this year Republicans redrew the maps of two suburban Atlanta county commissions that recently flipped to Democratic control — Gwinnett and Cobb — as well as Augusta-Richmond and Chatham County, which includes Savannah.
“People in our counties send us here to do a job, which is to carry out their will, protect their interests,” said Rahman, who chairs the Gwinnett delegation in the state Senate. “This is exactly what we want the ability to do.”
Gov. Brian Kemp last week signed the new Gwinnett commission districts map.
Gwinnett, the second-largest county in Georgia by population, is the most diverse county in the Southeast. In the past four years, its commission has flipped from totally Republican to totally Democratic. Republican legislators redrew the map that the Democratic majority of the Gwinnett delegation introduced, creating a Republican-leaning district.
