The Anchorage Assembly is moving ahead with one of four proposed new political maps as it undergoes a process that will change the boundaries of election districts.
The Assembly came to a consensus during a meeting Tuesday, landing on one of the four remaining proposals of a dozen that have been considered. Members voted to set aside three maps, moving ahead with a map drafted by Assembly member John Weddleton and Denny Wells, a member of the public.
The reapportionment process is not over yet. The Assembly will hold a public hearing March 15 to give community councils and residents time to review and comment on proposed changes to the map. The Assembly likely won’t vote to institute the new district map until the end of the month. “I recognize that these are difficult questions ... in terms of coming up with a map that is fair, and also reflects something that most everyone in the community is happy with,” Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance said during the meeting.
Though District 5, East Anchorage, would lose a large chunk of its western portion, a northern section of the Muldoon Road area that is currently grouped with Eagle River in District 2 would be returned to District 5. A different map would have grouped a part of the East Hillside and Basher neighborhoods with District 2, Eagle River/Chugiak. Authored by Anchorage resident Robert Hockema, that proposal elicited vehement opposition from many Hillside and Basher residents, who said that there is no direct road access to Eagle River. Many said that the needs and issues facing each community are vastly different.
Assembly members acknowledged the issue but proceeded with Weddleton-Wells map that leaves District 2 largely as is.
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