Lake County’s reapportionment committee, tasked with helping set the parameters of the County Board and its members for the next decade, moved forward with an ordinance Friday that would see the size of the panel reduced by two seats, from 21 to 19, through redistricting.
To pair with the potential reduction, the ordinance would have the county’s districts continue to be represented by one member each. The chair of the board would continue to be voted on by other board members, as opposed to by the county at large. Board members would also continue to receive an annual salary rather than be paid for each meeting they attend.
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The ordinance now moves to the full County Board for a final vote on Oct. 12. If approved, the next step would be to begin redrawing the districts’ boundaries, something the county has until the end of the year to complete.
Some board members voiced concerns Friday about reducing the number of seats on the panel, citing worries about minority residents losing representation. District 18 board member Julie Simpson said she worried that reducing the number of districts could dilute the voting power of minority populations.
Simpson also cited the previous reapportionment process in 2011, which saw two districts that had minority representatives merged into one, ousting one of them from the board. Many officials since have said that decision hurt minority representation on the County Board.
“I feel with 21 members, and not 19, there’s more of an opportunity to see minorities be elected,” she said. “I would like to see more minorities on our board, plain and simple.”
Simpson represents Vernon Hills and Indian Creek, as well as parts of Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove and Mundelein.
Officials confirmed the county would have four districts where minority residents make up the majority of the population, regardless of the number of seats. Board Chair Sandy Hart, who has supported the reduction, said four districts out of 19, as opposed to four districts out of 21, would be better since it’s a greater share.
Hart in the past has also cited a few studies that suggest the County Board would be more effective if its size was reduced. Those studies also suggest having a certain number of members based on population, which Hart has used to say a reduction is necessary.
While the committee voted unanimously to move forward with the reduction proposal during a discussion Monday, a few members, including District 17 board member Michael Danforth and District 1 board member Linda Pedersen, said they were in favor of keeping the board at 21 members.
Danforth said Friday he also hopes the board will have a chance to help draw the maps, rather than the maps having been pre-drawn for approval.
“I think … all of us (should) be able to have an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and actually have a hand in that process from the very beginning,” he said.
Danforth represents Island Lake, much of the Barrington area, Tower Lakes, Fox River Grove, and portions of Wauconda and Hawthorn Woods. Pedersen represents Antioch and Old Mill Creek, and parts of Fox Lake and Lake Villa.