Ocoee commission backs Orange County 'Washington map 2' for redistricting, plans resolution

The City Commission heard an extensive briefing on the Orange County redistricting process and voted to direct staff to send a resolution expressing the city's support for "Washington map 2," which would keep Ocoee intact within a single county commission district and, in the commissioners' view, preserve ties to neighboring municipalities such as Winter Garden and Apopka.

Angel Della Portia, Ocoee's representative to the county redistricting committee, briefed the commission on the committee's work since February and described the remaining schedule: two committee meetings (including a meeting on Aug. 28 and a final meeting on Sept. 3), after which the county commission will receive two candidate maps and select one for submission to the state division of elections. Della Portia said the committee will submit two maps for county-commission consideration and that a county decision is expected in mid-September.

Della Portia reviewed several competing maps and noted that some maps keep Ocoee whole in District 2 while others would split the city. He explained that one map submitted by David Washington ("Washington map 2") has support from Winter Garden and the West Orange Chamber and would keep Ocoee, Winter Garden, Oakland and Apopka together in one district. Several other maps either split Ocoee or place the city in a different district alignment.

Commissioners discussed strategy for the city's input. Multiple commissioners said they preferred keeping Ocoee whole in a single district; several noted the importance of remaining aligned with neighboring municipalities for transportation and planning issues. The commission agreed to support Washington map 2 as its primary choice and to prepare a resolution to send to the county. Commissioners also discussed a secondary preference (Henry map 2) to advance if the primary option proved unworkable during committee votes.

A motion was made at the meeting for the commission to express formal support for Washington map 2 and to have staff send a resolution; the motion was seconded and the chair called for a vote. The transcript records the motion, a second and the chair's call to vote; the chair announced the motion and next steps (staff to submit the city's preferred map selection to the county). The transcript does not include a roll-call tally of yes/no votes beyond statements of support by several commissioners and the chair's direction to prepare a resolution.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that redistricting is a technical and political process with many stakeholders; Angel Della Portia noted the committee had held 22 meetings and had narrowed about 30 submitted maps down to seven that remained under consideration at the latest meeting. The commission instructed staff to transmit the city's resolution supporting Washington map 2 and to be prepared to back Henry map 2 as a fallback.