Committee rejects Washington 3 redistricting map after debate over growth and municipal splits

The Orange County Mid Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee on July 9 voted to reject the Washington 3 map following committee debate over projected growth imbalances, municipal splits and community continuity.

Member Jane Washington presented Washington 3 as an alternative to his second plan, describing efforts to avoid splitting certain municipal-designated places and to respect Census-designated boundaries. Sponsor Washington acknowledged the map’s tradeoffs: "We wanted to make a map that is reasonable, understandable, and with clarity," he said, and noted some municipal splits were unintended and could be fixed in future revisions.

Committee counsel David White reported that Washington 3 met the one-person, one-vote threshold with a maximum population deviation reported at 8.6 percent and said the numbering and term provisions could be adjusted to comply with the charter. Nevertheless, members pressed concerns about growth: Member Afong said the plan would add roughly 9,000 people to District 5 and warned the committee would have to rebalance after projected growth in 2030.

Several members praised aspects of Washington 3 while registering objections. Member Baga and Member Spears highlighted East Orlando and Lake Nona configurations they found helpful; Member Kelsheimer said Lockhart’s municipal preferences required keeping Lockhart in District 2. Attorney White reminded the committee that race should not drive line-drawing unless necessary to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and he said a racially polarized voter analysis would be needed to consider race-driven choices.

The sponsor moved to approve Washington 3; Member Baga seconded. The roll call recorded mixed yes/no votes (members recorded in the transcript included Ochevsky, Jackson, De La Portilla, Washington, Co-chair Perez, Co-chair Evans, Baga and Spears as yes votes; others recorded no). The motion to approve did not carry. Committee members then moved to reject Washington 3; that motion passed on a subsequent roll call and the map was not advanced.

Washington said he would continue refining proposals; staff and co-chairs reminded sponsors that redundant or clearly nonviable maps could be withdrawn to conserve meeting time as the committee proceeds through dozens of submissions.