ATLANTA - A congressional redistricting plan making its way through the Georgia Legislature could bring major changes to the memberships of the state's most controversial governmental boards, including those that deal with higher education, roads and public health.
Republican lawmakers are hoping to redraw the boundaries of the state's 13 congressional districts, which were last recrafted in 2001, when Democrats were the state's majority power.
Republicans have long claimed the Democrat map gerrymandered the state into bizarre-shaped districts to hurt the GOP. Now that Republicans run state government, their leaders have pledged to address the congressional map's lines.
GOP leaders in both chambers are now pushing for a single redistricting plan that creates more compact districts throughout the state. That map would take effect in January 2007.
However, the new boundaries would have a ripple effect on various state boards that are composed of a single member from each existing congressional district.
The governor is typically charged with appointing members to most boards.
Should lawmakers approve the GOP-drawn map, changes would come to nearly every board, thanks to the appointments made by whoever wins Georgia's gubernatorial election in 2006. Under the proposed map, the Board of Regents - which governs the state's 34 public colleges and universities - would see two of its current members drawn into the proposed 9th Congressional District, which stretches through most of northeast Georgia, including Athens and parts of Augusta.
The new map would pair regent Patrick Pittard, of Lakemont, and Timothy Shelnut, of Augusta. Mr. Shelnut's term would expire in January 2007, while Mr. Pittard's term is scheduled to continue until 2008. State law would give the district to Mr. Pittard by default since his term continues.
Mr. Shelnut, the wealthy owner of a retirement planning business, would still be eligible to serve as a regent if he changed his legal address to a home that he owns in Burke County.
However, he could only serve if the state's next governor asks him to do so.
A different case would await the state Transportation Board, which has its members picked by the various state lawmakers whose districts overlap each congressional district. The proposed redistricting map would group two incumbent members of the board into the 1st District.
The current 9th District incumbent on the board is Bill Kuhlke, of Augusta, whose term does not expire until 2009.
The current representative of the 12th District, which would include most of Richmond County under the proposed map, is Jon Burns, of Newington, which would remain in the 12th District. Mr. Burns' term expires in 2008.
Staff reports were used in this article.
Reach Brian Basinger at (404) 681-1701 or brian.basinger@morris.com.
A proposed congressional reapportionment plan moving through the Georgia Legislature could bring major changes to many state boards. Here's a look at the possible groupings that would occur locally if the new map takes effect in January 2007:
BOARD OF REGENTS
Proposed District 9 (northeast Georgia, Athens, part of Augusta): Would group Patrick Pittard of Lakemont (term expires 2008) and Timothy Shelnut of Augusta (term expires 2007). State law would give the district to Mr. Pittard by default because his term continues. However, Mr. Shelnut could be considered for another seat in the 12th District, where he also owns a home.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES BOARD
Proposed District 9 (north-east Georgia, Athens, part of Augusta): The term of current board member Willene Grant of Buckhead will expire in 2006. If she is reappointed, she could keep the seat.
Proposed District 12 (east-central Georgia, Augusta, Savannah): No current incumbent.
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