Athens-Clarke elections board backs commission district map proposed by state Rep. Spencer Frye

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections has voted in support of state Rep. Spencer Frye’s compromise map for the local commission districts.

The five board members gathered Wednesday evening in a special called meeting to discuss the ongoing process for the approval of the commission district map.

In 4-1 vote, board members approved a resolution requesting that the Georgia General Assembly adopt the redistricting map proposed by Frye. Patricia Till cast the dissenting vote.

Elections board members are appointed, with the mayor and commission appointing three, and the local Democratic and Republican parties each appointing one member. Rocky Raffle is the Democratic appointment and Till the Republican.

Frye introduced his map on Jan. 18 in response to a map proposed by the Republican legislative delegation that drew fire from local elected officials, including most of the commissioners.

Read More: Athens-Clarke commission backs 'compromise' district map drawn by Dem. Rep. Spencer Frye

As the battle for which map is approved continues, the elections office has reported it will need a map soon to meet a Feb. 18 deadline for inputting voter information into its system ahead of May’s election.

The four Republican members of the state delegation — Rep. Houston Gaines of Athens, Rep. Marcus Wiedower of Watkinsville, Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens and Sen. Frank Ginn of Danielsville — created an entirely new map after commissioners failed to reach a unanimous vote on its map in December.

That map created four minority-represented districts, but split the historically Black community of East Athens into multiple districts. Additionally, three commissioners would be unable to continue in their current seats, with Melissa Link, Russell Edwards and Tim Denson unable to run until 2024.

Also: Delegation's proposal for new Athens commission district map includes significant changes

Frye’s compromise map would maintain four minority-represented districts, reunify East Athens and protect incumbents.

Cowsert has been the only member of the delegation to respond to the Athens Banner-Herald’s inquires, saying on Jan. 21 that the local government and delegation normally meet before the legislative session, but that did not happen this year and that the commission had “never submitted its original proposed map to me for consideration or review.”

At the time of his response, Cowsert had not had an opportunity to review Frye’s map, which has not been introduced in the legislature. The delegation’s map has been introduced as House Bill 890.

“This (the delegation's map) creates more minority opportunity districts than the initial proposal by the county commission which appears designed to protect all incumbent commissioners' seats with as few changes as possible, effectively perpetuating the current districts which were so widely criticized when drawn 10 years ago,” said Cowsert.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens Board of Elections supports compromise commission district map