Summit County officials raise concerns about HB356 districting provisions that would force district-based council seats

Summit County officials warned Feb. 19 that a proposed state bill, HB356, would force council-manager counties to move to district-based council seats and could reduce representation for the county's eastern communities.

County staff member Jana, presenting the legislative update to the Summit County Council, said HB356 would require third- through sixth-class counties that use a council-manager form of government to ensure at least 65% of council members represent single-member districts. The bill also would require counties to form a districting commission by June 1, draft district maps using the most recent census, and present a proposed map to the county council by Aug. 1 for approval. Under the timeline Jana outlined, district-based elections would begin in November 2026 with newly staggered terms starting Jan. 1, 2027; she said current council terms would end Dec. 31, 2026 to effect the change.

“By June 1 of this year the county would need to establish a county districting commission,” Jana told the council. She said the commission would include a mayoral representative from each municipality and one resident from the unincorporated county appointed by the council, and that the map must meet standard legal requirements for population deviation, contiguity and compactness.

Eve Furze, Summit County clerk, told the council…