The County Commission on Tuesday voted 6-3 to add two more districts to the current nine. In favor were Sabrena Smedley, Greg Martin, Randy Fairbanks, Steve Highlander, Chip Baker and Tim Boyd. Opposed were Katherlyn Geter, Warren Mackey and David Sharpe. They had asked for more time to consider the redistricting.
In an earlier vote, all commissioners were in favor of changes to the map made at the meeting.
It will take action by the state Legislature to also increase the districts for school board members from nine to 11.
Commissioner Geter said majority commissioners were given the first opportunity to draw the districts they wanted. She said she had wanted to keep Harrison Elementary School.
Chairman Smedley said she had to give up sections she did not want to lose - including the section of East Brainerd hit by the tornado and Collegedale.
Chairman Smedley said due to significant population changes it had been difficult to draw two commissioners with a minority majority. She said that had been a focus.
Commissioner Boyd said there had been "an incredible population shift in the last 10 years." He said, "The minorities 10 years ago were much more concentrated and it was much easier to draw minority majority districts." He said it was "a good thing" that the county has become so much more diverse and interspersed, including his own cul de sac.
He said East Ridge High School is now a minority majority school, and he said the Hispanic population has grown 400 percent in his district.
Commissioners Geter and Sharpe urged a delay in the vote. That motion failed 5-4.
Commissioner Sharpe then moved for a plan with 18 districts that would not take into account where current commissioners live. That was voted down.
There were some late changes that gave Commissioner Geter some additional territory she wanted in District 5. However, she had wanted Harrison Elementary in her district, but it was voted 5-4 that it be in the district of Commissioner Highlander.
The map was changed to keep all of Flattop Mountain in District 2 (Commissioner Baker) and to keep all of Falling Water in District 1 (Commissioner Fairbanks).
District 1 33,750
District 2 31,833
District 3 33,457
District 4 31,659
District 5 32,838
District 6 32,517
District 7 34,655
District 8 34,941
District 9 31,699
District 10 34,343
District 11 33,508