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Residents urge supervisors to either oppose or refrain from taking an official position on Virginia redistricting amendment
Summary
Public commenters at the Nelson County Board of Supervisors meeting sharply disagreed over resolution R206-18, a proposed county statement on an April 21 constitutional amendment to allow temporary congressional redistricting; speakers argued whether the board has authority to act and whether the issue is partisan or a defense of voter fairness.
Michael Hefner, who identified himself as chairman of the Nelson County Republican Committee, urged the board to pass resolution R206-18 opposing the April 21 constitutional amendment that would allow temporary congressional reapportionment. “If this referendum passes, Nelson County will be at the table asking for scraps,” he said, arguing the measure is partisan and would erase the countys voice.
Paul Sullivan, who identified himself as chair of the Nelson County Democratic Committee, told the board it should table or defeat the resolution. Sullivan said the board has no legal authority to tell constituents how to vote and that the resolution would have no force in law: “Each supervisor is free to voice your personal opinion as a private citizen and do what you want. Yet not as a legislative body.”
Other residents who spoke represented both sides. John Harris, a retired Marine, urged the board to support opposing the amendment and also to back a Second Amendment resolution. Several speakers, including An Mishi and others, said the board should avoid taking an official position on a statewide, partisan referendum because doing so risks deepening local divisions.
Why it matters: The transcript shows repeated concern that a county-level resolution could be perceived as partisan or as overstepping local authority; supporters say a county statement signals local values to Richmond and beyond. Commenters referenced the countys 2020 bipartisan redistricting vote and framed the referendum either as a corrective to out-of-cycle partisan map changes elsewhere or as a politically motivated maneuver.
What the board did next: The portion of the meeting in this transcript ends after public comment and a consent-agenda vote; there is no recorded final vote on resolution R206-18 in the text provided here.
