Apple Valley Council approves new district voting map
After nearly four months of meetings and public engagement, the Apple Valley Town Council has adopted a final redistricting map.
On Tuesday, the council approved the map, which will be used during the November general election when registered voters in Apple Valley will choose for the first time an at-large mayor to serve for two years.
Voters who reside within newly established districts 3 and 4 will also cast votes for a council member district representative who will serve one four-year term.
Voters who reside in Districts 1 and 2 will vote in November 2024 for their respective district representatives.
The nomination period begins on July 18 for mayor and Town Council Districts 3 and 4 for the November election.
The Tan Map
After reviewing a series of submitted maps by the public, the town, and a consultant, the “Tan” map prepared by a consultant was selected by the council.
Tan Map general boundaries for District 1 include Morro Road to the north, Yucca Loma Road to the south, Interstate 15 to the west, and Navajo to the east.
District 2 boundaries include Falchion Road to the north, Poppy Road to the south, the Mojave River to the west, and Deep Creek/Rincon roads to the east.
District 3 boundaries include Morro Road to the north, Sitting Bull Road to the south, Navajo Road to the west, and Joshua Road to the east.
District 4 boundaries include Sitting Bull Road to the north, Ocotillo Way to the south, Deep Creek Road to the west and Central Road to the east.
Map criteria
The map is divided into four voting districts in the town with, according to the 2020 census,76,063 residents, Each district represents about a quarter of the total population.
Demographics were also taken into consideration in the map for the town, which is about 45% white, 38% Hispanic, 9% Black, and 4% Asian American. Citizen voter registration in 2020 numbered 43,996 individuals. Of those, 62% were white, 26% Latino, 10% Black, and nearly 3% of Filipino and Asian surnames.
Redistricting
On Jan. 24, the town entered into a contract with National Demographics Corporation to perform redistricting services, including the drawing of maps.
Several public hearings were held and the public was also invited to create potential district maps, with a final adoption date of April 12.
The town was presently divided into five districts, which were based on factors including geography, the use of major roadways as dividing lines, and the consideration of future growth areas.
Mayoral election
In Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville, voters elect council members in their respective districts, and the councils later vote to appoint one of their own as mayor and mayor pro tem.
The council on Feb. 22 voted to transition to a four-district voting map with an at-large mayoral election scheduled every two years.
The 3-2 vote came with the support of Mayor Kari Leon and Councilmen Scott Nassif and Larry Cusack for the first mayoral election since the town was incorporated in 1988.
During that time Mayor Pro Tem Art Bishop said he ultimately voted no after hearing the phrase “If it’s not broke, why fix it?” from several town residents.
Councilman Curt Emick said he was not sure the mayoral election was the best scenario. He added that many residents didn’t know the voting district boundaries, the district they resided in, or their district representative.
In the High Desert, the cities of Adelanto and Barstow have at-large mayoral elections every four years.
Appointment and elections
In 2019, the council adopted an ordinance approving a five-district voting map. At that time, Cusack found himself in District 1 and Bishop in District 2.
Cusack and Bishop were first elected in 2012 and reelected in November 2020 when they ran unopposed during the town’s first by-district election.
In 2018, incumbent Scott Nassif was reelected along with Emick, who first won his council seat in 2010. Leon also won her first election in 2018.
Nassif, Emick, and Leon do not represent districts, but that will change in November should they choose to run for reelection.
Currently serving his 5th term, Nassif first earned his seat in 2002 and won reelection bids every four years through 2018.
To learn more about the district maps and process, and to identify your potential voting district, visit av.town/redistricting.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Election: Redistricting map set for Apple Valley ahead of fall voting
