Residents press commissioners on dismissed DOJ voting‑rights action, urge single‑member districts

Speakers during the public‑comment period urged the Houston County Board of Commissioners to revisit a reported dismissal of a Department of Justice Voting Rights Act challenge and to adopt single‑member (district) elections so communities of color have an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Dr. Jackson, who opened the public comments on this topic, said the Justice Department’s Voting Rights Division had argued that if commissioners were elected from fairly drawn single‑member districts, “black voters would have an equal opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to the board.” Dr. Jackson said he and others question why a DOJ‑filed lawsuit that, in his words, “brought clarity” was dismissed and asked the commission whether that dismissal was justified. He asked: “Is this dismissal an act of racism or discrimination or greed?” and called for action to restore what he described as an opportunity for disenfranchised communities.

Miss Rosier, a resident who said she ran for a Houston County commission post in May 2022, told the board she believed at‑large voting diluted votes from people of color and said other local elected bodies (the Houston County School Board and municipal councils in Warner Robins and Perry) have district voting and minority representation. Rosier said the county board “is the only elected body in this county that has no persons of color on it and has not for over 30 years” and asked commissioners to work with the state delegation to draw districts without litigation.

A community member identified in the record as Mr. Johnson, speaking in the name of NAACP constituencies present, said diversity matters in governance and urged commissioners to provide district seats so the county’s Black residents “can choose some of our people to run for the position.” Bishop Milton Wynne, who identified himself as a pastor of 50 years in the city, likewise asked the commission to reconsider districting so “everybody’s represented” and said residents “just need a face that looks like us.”

The speakers repeatedly referenced the DOJ and statistical analyses such as maps and percentages during their remarks; however, the commission did not record a response or formal action on the record to change the county’s election method during the meeting.

Ending Commissioners thanked speakers for respectful comments during the public‑comment period. The transcript records community concern about the DOJ action and calls for district elections, but the board did not take action on those requests during the session recorded in this meeting.