The 2011 map determining the city’s five commission districts will be used for future municipal elections after action last week by the Waycross City Commission.
The four commissioners unanimously approved a resolution at their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, February 17 making official the 2011 map for commission district lines.
The map, which is based on the city’s 2010 U.S. Census figures, replaces all other maps used by the Ware County Board of Elections and Registration when conducting elections for the city.
The map now will be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State as well as the Clerk of Superior Court in Ware County as official. It must be filed with the state 30 days prior to the election for which it will be used, in this case, the June 17 Georgia Primary.
The Ware County Board of Elections has used the map for successive elections since it was approved by city commissioners in a 2011 resolution. However, it was replaced with a 2005 version by error for the 2023 Muncipal Election.
A lawsuit by District 5 Commission candidate Henry Strickland challenging its use during his bid for re-election led to the change. Strickland, who said the 2011 map was the valid one, lost the seat to Alvin Nelson by 18 votes.
The Superior Court sided with Strickland, removing Nelson from the seat until another election could be held. Nelson, however, appealed the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court.
That body returned Nelson to the seat when it agreed to hear the case during its winter term in November. The court released its ruling last month, returning Nelson to the seat saying the 2005 map was valid because the 2011 map had not been filed with the state. The court recommended the city approve that map and submit it as official.
“Basically, (commission) is readopting the 2011 map as official” from the 2011 resolution, Interim City Attorney Huey Spearman said.
Submission to the state and court clerk would include a copy of the map, the ordinance designating its validity and the publisher’s affidavit of the legal ad announcing it being adopted.
Supervisor of Elections Carlos Nelson said the map already was in the board’s system, and would be used to determine a voter registrant’s district upon commission approval.
“This is long overdue,” Commissioner Nelson said.
