'A momentous occasion': Why the county created a majority-Hispanic commission district

Aiming to provide a better opportunity for residents to elect a representative who best reflects the community, Palm Beach County Commissioners approved new commission district boundaries, including for the first time a majority-Hispanic district.

The 2020 census saw Palm Beach County’s Hispanic population grow to 23.5%, the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the county.

“This is, I think, a very momentous occasion in a lot of ways for this county,” Commissioner Dave Kerner said.

Kerner said the redistricting process, from the local to federal government, “unfortunately becomes a very political process, one where we elected officials oftentimes put their own interests ahead of the constituents of the community at large.”

“I’m very proud of the way that this board managed this process, with the help of staff, to ensure that we have districts that look like our community, that allow those that are in our community to elect their preferred candidates, and that politics or partisan ideology and tactical positions didn’t overtake the process,” Kerner said.

Previously: Palm Beach County seeks to create a Hispanic-majority commission district

More: Pandemic forces 'unbelievably short time frame' for Palm Beach County to redraw district lines

Redistricting, a process that redraws political lines every 10 years following the decennial census, left most Palm Beach County Commission borders untouched, with small portions relocated to neighboring districts.

The districts that went through the most transformation were District 2 and 3, represented by Commissioners Gregg Weiss and Kerner, respectively.

Before boundaries were redrawn, District 2, which had included parts of West Palm Beach as well as Palm Beach International Airport, had the highest Hispanic population at 44%. But a majority of commissioners decided District 3 should be majority-Hispanic because Kerner will be term-limited in 2024 and Weiss faces re-election next year, currently without any challengers.

The new District 3, which will have a 51.26% Hispanic population, sits fairly condensed between Florida’s Turnpike and Interstate 95, from parts of Southern Boulevard to Hypoluxo Road.

“We’re very proud of the area that’s actually going to be the Hispanic district,” said Greenacres Mayor Joel Flores.

The new boundaries for District 2 go as far north as Northlake Boulevard, wrap east around District 3 down Olive Avenue, and head south to Boynton Beach Boulevard.

The idea for a majority-Hispanic district was originally floated by Commissioner Mack Bernard in 2020, but his colleagues opted to hold off on any discussions until the redistricting process began. District 7, which he represents, remains a majority-Black district at 51.79%.

The largest district, at 218,550 residents, is District 4, which covers parts of Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. It is represented by Mayor Robert Weinroth, who is also seeking re-election in 2022.

The smallest district is Commissioner Maria Marino’s District 1, covering municipalities north of Northlake Boulevard, at 207,536 residents.

The county's school board also voted to create a majority-Hispanic district, covering much of the same footprint as the county commission's.

Broward County Commissioners recently reshaped its nine districts to include one that is 52% Hispanic. The board also has two majority-Black districts.

Hannah Morse is a reporter covering Palm Beach County. She can be reached at hmorse@pbpost.com or 561-820-4833. Follow her on Twitter at @mannahhorse.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County Commissioners approve new district boundaries