The re-districting committee presented its plan for districts in Rutherford County to the county commission this week. The plan retains 21 districts, though districts will change due to growth in Rutherford County.

Re-districting is required by both federal and state law every 10 years after the U.S. census is taken.

Re-districting is mandated to ensure that populations are being represented equally. Rutherford County has grown by 40 percent since the year 2000. Such growth resulted in disproportional districts. State law allows counties to decide the number of districts it will have as long as the number of districts is between nine and 25.

Opposition to the district map presented to the county commission came from commissioners who were concerned that the process had been rushed.

Commissioner Robert Stevens (District 12) proposed a 14 district county at the re-districting committee’s Sept. 14 meeting arguing that a 21-member commission is inefficient and costly.

Stevens pointed out cutting seven districts out would save the county approximately $75,000 each year.

Stevens presented his plan after the committee was set to finalize its 21-district plan.

Commissioner Rhonda Allen (District 11) urged the county commission to postpone voting for the committee’s plan arguing that Stevens’ map should be taken into further consideration.

“We have the luxury of time. I think we need to take another month, talk to constituents and take another look. I think this is rushed, hurried, and I think it’s unnecessary,” Allen said.

Stevens backed Allen’s proposal to postpone the vote with harsh criticism to the full commission.

“Let’s get the committee to study a 14-member map so we can say we did our due diligence instead of pushing through the incumbent protection plan,” Stevens argued.

Discussion intensified after Stevens’ accused commissioners of protecting their seats on the commission.

Commissioner Robert Peay Jr. (District 4) fired back at Stevens accusing him of protecting his own seat.

“I take offense to that comment especially since you drew yourself without an opponent. That sounds like some protectionism to me,” Peay fired back.

Several concerned citizens voiced their opposition to Stevens’ 14-district plan arguing the personal relationship between citizens and their commissioner is not something they are ready to give up by making district populations larger.

Commissioner Gary L. Farley (District 7) agreed Stevens’ plan would create too much distance between citizens and their commissioner.

“If you get close to 19,000 people, there’s no way you can do the job that the people need you to do,” Farley said.

The re-districting committee argued that 21 districts worked with the road board and school board, while also being accessible to citizens considering the growth of the county.

Stevens tried to make a motion at the last minute to make a 14-district map, but it was declared an invalid motion by Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess.

The commission voted 16-5 in favor of the 21-district map presented by the re-districting committee.