Supervisors must adopt a fair map

When considering redistricting in Butte County, three supervisors have consistently insisted that Chico be divided into four districts and the ‘Agriculture’ areas need two districts. Business enterprises, like agriculture, are not residents or voters. All county residents access services from the county from behavioral health to child safety to the county jail and deserve equal representation on the Board of Supervisors.

‘The FAIR Maps Act’ was passed in California in 2019. This law outlines the manner in which county supervisors create districts every 10 years after a US Census. This law says that when creating districts, the supervisors must: consider communities of interest, the geographic integrity of a city shall be respected, geographic compactness should be encouraged and more. I read the text of the law. It does not say businesses should be represented, rather it acknowledges that individuals, residents in their communities should be considered.

I am concerned that the supervisors will ignore the dictates of a law and will have to explain their actions in court. Supervisor Teeter has said he would like to be a ‘test case.’ I have watched hundreds of thousands of tax dollars spent on frivolous lawsuits by the Chico City Council. This was all money down the drain. I don’t want to see my county tax dollars wasted in the same manner. I urge the Board of Supervisors to heed the laws of the state of California and to draw districts in compliance with the FAIR Maps Act. Incompetence is expensive.

— Loree Monroe, Chico