He brings letters from the St Johns County Commission, both the Republican and Democrat Executive Committees, and others expressing concerns of being a bookend between Jacksonville and Orlando-Daytona under the currently proposed base map.
“I am taking with me the message to keep St Johns County under one congressional district,” McClure told Historic City News editor Michael Gold today.
The newsroom also received a letter from local Senator Travis Hutson, the leader of the St Johns County Legislative Delegation, conveying his support for preserving one, undivided Congressional District.
After redistricting in 2002, St Johns County has been wholly served by one Representative to the United States House; originally Congressman John Mica and subsequently Congressman Ron DeSantis.
Since that time, the population of the county has grown quickly and exponentially from 135,882 in 2002, to 209,647 in 2013.
The current base map divides St. Johns County near its southern end, separating a significant portion of the county’s population into two different congressional districts.
“To deprive St. Johns County of cohesive representation at the federal level is a disservice to our community,” Hutson told Chairman Galvano, Chairman Oliva, and the members of the Joint Committee on Redistricting in his letter. “I wholeheartedly request this committee’s reconsideration of a congressional map to provide adequate representation for the county’s unique population.”
Hutson believes that by dividing St. Johns County’s population centers, Congressional District 6 becomes a Central Florida seat and Northeast Florida loses a congressional delegate.
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