Doraville explores redistricting options

Through annexations and new housing developments, Doraville welcomed many new residents to the city over the past decade.

The 2020 census found the city’s population grew by 27% since 2010. However, that population growth wasn’t evenly spread throughout the city or its three council districts — the north portion of the city has nearly double the population of the city’s west side.

City leaders will have to redraw their districts to more evenly balance their constituents’ numbers to comply with federal law before the next local election in 2023. The City Council is considering two state-generated options, but no one seemed pleased by the current prospects.

“They took two stabs at it,” City Manager Chris Eldridge said during a Dec. 13 meeting. “They look squirrelly, but they were taking into account where (the city’s six) council members currently live and trying to make it work. That’s why it’s not a neat, symmetrical drawing.”

The Legislative and Congressional Reappointment Office created the maps, which each include at least one odd-looking borderline. Some neighborhoods would be split between districts in order to evenly divide the city’s 10,623 residents.

“With the way our city has been bisected by so many major highways over the years, there’s going to be no clean way to do three districts as it currently stands,” Councilman Chris Henshaw said.

Henshaw and several other councilmembers said they’d like to see how a two-district map would look. That option would reshape how local elections would play out in Doraville, which currently has two councilmembers elected from each district. A two-district system would likely include at-large council seats and potentially one fewer councilmember.

Councilwomen Stephe Koontz said there was a silver lining to reducing the number of people on council, since a five-person council would avoid tie votes. (Doraville’s mayor currently only votes in the event of a tie.)