To the Editor: 

Last week, the Macon County Planning Board rushed through a plan to recommend new commissioner district maps that would dilute representation for many residents in our county. Currently, Macon County commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. District 2, where about 60% of our population lives, has three commissioners. District 1 (Highlands/Scaly) and District 3 (Nantahala/Cowee) — each with approximately 20% of the population — have one commissioner each. Because of the staggered terms, voters in District 2 can elect a commissioner every two years. Currently, commissioners are elected by all voters countywide.

Despite the significance of this issue, the planning board offered no clear decision criteria and no data analysis to justify its recommendation. One county commissioner, serving as liaison to the board, argued for the map that would enlarge Districts 1 and 3 while shrinking District 2. Under this recommended proposal, each of the three newly defined districts would have one commissioner who must reside in the district, plus two “at-large” commissioners who could live anywhere in the county. All five commissioners would still be elected by all Macon County voters. 

The commissioner pushing this plan openly stated there is a “really good candidate” in his district who could run for one of the new at-large seats in two years, instead of waiting for the current term to expire. He is correct — and that is exactly the problem. Under this flawed configuration, it would be feasible for up to three commissioners to live in a less populated area of our county. It would also be feasible for three commissioners to live in the town of Franklin. In either case, Macon County residents would have under-representation or over-representation depending on where one lives.

To make matters worse, the liaison commissioner said there is no other county in North Carolina with a configuration like the one the planning board just endorsed. The liaison commissioner also claimed that our current map is unconstitutional. That assertion was directly refuted with reference to North Carolina statute 153A-58, yet the board still moved ahead with this untested model.

During the meeting, a reasonable alternative was put forward and largely ignored: align the three District 2 commissioner terms so they expire at the same time. That change would remove the opportunity for someone from District 2 to run every two years, while preserving the current structure and potentially avoid the need for state legislative approval. It is a simple solution that addresses the stated concern without undermining representation for large parts of the county. The vast majority of public comments supported a configuration that would have five districts of equal size, each with a county commissioner representative. 

Macon County should not approve a new district map designed around political ambitions that could lead to reducing the voices of Macon residents. Our commissioners should reject this recommendation, insist on a process grounded in clear criteria and data and adopt a solution that protects fair representation for all communities in Macon County.

This recommendation now goes to the Macon Board of Commissioners and, if they approve it, on to the state legislature for final action. I urge Macon County residents to contact their commissioners and state legislators to demand a fair, transparent redistricting process that puts community representation ahead of personal political gain.

Lisa Walker
Franklin