Supervisor districts finally set in Franklin County

After weeks of back-and-forth between the county and state, Franklin County's new Supervisor districts have been set for the next decade.

Following the latest census, the county created a bi-partisan committee to redraw supervisor districts in order to reflect changes in population. The proposed map made minimal changes to the existing supervisor districts, with only substantial difference being the move of Lee Township in southern Franklin County from District 2 into District 3. The new map created a narrowly even split in the population of the three districts, with Districts 2 and 3 being identical and District 1 being just 14 people off from the other two.

However, in January, the Legislative Services Agency sent back a district map that was very different from what had been proposed.

The new map divided most of the county's geographical area between Districts 1 and 3, with District 2 comprising entirely of three out of four of Hampton's precincts. This is a major departure from the existing map, which split Hampton evenly between Districts 1 and 2, allowing for rural residents to run for all three seats on the Board of Supervisors. Under the new map, the District 2 seat will be exclusive to a Hampton resident and accountable to Hampton voters.

The immediate result of the new map would be the elimination of District 2 Supervisor Gary McVicker, who would either have to move to Hampton or run for the newly established District 1 seat against Chris Vanness. McVicker stated that neither option was appealing to him and had resigned to not run again in those circumstances.

Vanness himself, who is in the middle of his term as District 3 supervisor, would have to run again this year due to his district being renumbered into District 1.

Likewise, District 1 Supervisor Mike Nolte would also have to run in the new District 3, however as his term was up anyway so he would be on the ballot regardless.

Unhappy with the state's proposed map and denied the opportunity for back-and-forth feedback due to delays in the state's response, the Supervisors decided to reject the map and send it back to the Legislative Services Agency with suggestions in the hopes that they would resolve some of the complaints. The Supervisors did this knowing that they would be beholden to whatever map the Legislative Services Agency would send back.

"We got to put up a fight, you know," said McVicker. "It's that central erosion of local say."

Under the new, and final, map some aspects of the original proposal made by the county were adopted. Specifically, District 3 is now largely identical to what was originally proposed by the county, encompassing Lee, Oakland, Morgan, Scott, Wisner, Richland, Ross, West Fork, and west Mott Townships, along with the city of Coulter. By designating this area as District 3 instead of District 1, the new map will prevent Supervisor Vanness from having to run for re-election in the middle of his current term.

On the other hand, the new map's District 2 will still be geographically reduced to just the Hampton area, ensuring that the next District 2 supervisor will be a Hampton resident.

Meanwhile, the remaining rural area of the county and the southeast ward of Hampton will make up the new District 1.

The new map changes things for Supervisor McVicker, who has now been placed in the same district as Supervisor Nolte. While McVicker said he was not inclined to run against Vanness after being moved into his district, he has decided to run against Nolte for the District 1 seat.

Both Nolte and McVicker have taken out papers to run in District 1. Assuming both meet the new signature requirements, the contest between the two will be decided in the upcoming Republican primary as neither candidate has expressed a willingness to change party affiliation to get on the ballot in November.

"We don't want to run against each other," said McVicker. "It's hard to do when we're friends."