SPECIAL SESSION

Governor Deal has issued a Proclamation to convene the General Assembly in Special Session beginning next Monday.  The purpose of the Special Session is to vote on the new maps for Congressional and legislative districts across Georgia.  In addition, the General Assembly will consider technical changes to next year's TSPLOST referendum and vote on the Governor's gas tax rate freeze.  For a copy of the Proclamation, click here.

DRAFT MAPS ARE PUBLISHED

The draft reapportionment maps were published yesterday and can be found here. Currently, I represent District 82, which can be viewed here. Because the new map doesn't label precincts or landmarks, it is very difficult to interpret.  As you can see, our current district no longer exists and parts of it will be included in the new 81st, 82nd, 86th, and 87th districts, and possibly others.  The precinct where I live, Henderson Mill, would be in the new 81st district, which also would include a part of Gwinnett County.  Also living in that proposed district is my colleague, State Rep. Elena Parent, of the current 81st district. 

I will soon be publishing my comments on this draft map and my experiences with the reapportionment process.  My initial reaction to the new map is that it does not keep intact any of the communities in our district.  Many of the districts in DeKalb County, especially 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89, are long and skinny, extending from North DeKalb to South DeKalb.  This means that residents of my current district could live far from their future representatives, and that those representatives might have little familiarity with this part of DeKalb County.

I welcome your views now and in the coming weeks as we go through this process. I hope to be able to continue representing you.

My very best,

Scott