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Residents tell Deschutes County commissioners Map C is rushed and gerrymandered
Summary
Multiple residents at the Nov. 17 Deschutes County meeting urged commissioners to reject a DMACC recommendation (Map C) for May 2026, calling the process rushed and partisan and presenting precinct-level voting evidence that they say would advantage one party.
At a Nov. 17 Deschutes County Board of Commissioners public work session, several residents urged the board not to adopt a proposed five-district plan known as Map C, saying the mapping advisory process was rushed and produced partisan outcomes.
"We are 1 community, 1 county," said Michelle Mark during the citizen input period, arguing the map "divides us into little gerrymandered pieces" and urging commissioners to preserve at-large voting so all families remain equally represented.
Mark Kelly, who said he prepared a memorandum and supporting chart for the board, told commissioners the district mapping advisory committee (DMACC) voted 4–3 to recommend Map C be placed on the May 2026 ballot. "DMACC has voted on a 4 to 3 split to recommend MAP C for approval by the board of commissioners to be placed on the May 2026 ballot," Kelly said, and presented precinct-level voting records he said show Map C would give three of five new districts an advantage to a single party.
Pete Shepherd, who said he followed nearly all DMACC meetings, criticized the cancellation of the committee's final public meeting and argued the board's instructions limited the committee's options: he told commissioners the process "handcuffed their hands behind their back" and prevented more creative, nonpartisan solutions.
Commissioners and staff responded in part by noting the mapping work is ongoing, public input will continue and procedural steps remain. Staff said if districts are adopted they will draw seat numbers by lot to assign specific seats to districts, a procedural move discussed as a next step.
No formal decision to adopt Map C was recorded at the meeting; public comment and internal discussion will feed into later steps, including a May 2026 ballot placement if the board moves forward with the DMACC recommendation.
