County Supervisor's Report

All Lined Up

DISTRICT SHIFTS CHANGE WHO WE SERVE

Redistricting is a word you only hear every 10 years, but it’s an important process that affects every voter in California and something we just completed in Sacramento County.

The timing of redistricting aligns with the census count to make sure each electoral district boundary, from a local county supervisor district to a congressional district, has approximately the same number of people and complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. This process is crucial to make sure you, as a Sacramento County resident, have equal representation at the Board of Supervisors and elsewhere.

Each jurisdiction in California chose how their district boundaries would be drawn during the redistricting process in 2021. The state and some local districts chose independent commissions. Others, such as the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, approved a map itself with public participation and input throughout the process.

Sacramento County hired National Demographics Corporation to assist with public outreach meetings and provide draft maps after receiving public input. The public submitted more than 200 written comments containing suggestions for redistricting and supervisorial boundary lines.

The Board of Supervisors voted on a fi nal map Dec. 7 after countless hours of discussion and thoughtful comments from the public. You can view the fi nal map on the Sacramento County Redistricting website at redistricting2021.saccounty.gov.

District 3 increased in population to 314,595 residents. It’s still known as the “unincorporated” district because 290,000 constituents—almost 90 percent—reside in unincorporated communities.

The district still includes ArdenArcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, La Riviera, Foothill Farms and parts of North Highlands. However, I now have the honor of representing Gold River and the eastern portion of the city of Rancho Cordova (everything east of Sunrise Boulevard).

In an effort to keep communities whole and balance population, a portion of District 3 within the city of Sacramento was drawn into District 1. The portion of North Highlands north of I-80 was placed in District 4. It has been a privilege to represent these areas. My offi ce will continue to assist any former constituents in getting connected with their new supervisorial district staff.

Although the pandemic makes outreach diffi cult, my goal is to continue to hold virtual meetings on topics that are important to the district. For the new areas I now represent, I will hold “Meet Your Supervisor” coffees. Additionally, my offi ce will schedule in-person community meetings this spring in each of our communities.

I look forward to meeting all of my constituents and hearing directly about what is important to you and what ideas you have to make government work effi ciently and effectively in Sacramento County.

Please remember to check out my website at bos.saccounty.gov/district3, and sign up for my newsletter to hear about my upcoming meetings.

RD

By Rich Desmond County Supervisor's Report

Rich Desmond represents District 3 on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. He can be reached at (916) 874-5471 or richdesmond@saccounty. net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n