• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Hillsborough completes redistricting

June 28, 2011 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

New alignment shifts Odessa and Keystone to a sprawling district that reaches Ruskin

By Kyle LoJacono

Odessa and Keystone residents will have new representation once the newly unveiled Hillsborough County districts take effect in 2011.

The Hillsborough Commission voted 6-1 in favor of the new alignment, with only Democrat Kevin Beckner voting against it. Les Miller, the only other Democrat on the board, sided with the five Republicans.

Lutz, Odessa and Keystone had been within county District 2, but commissioners had to split the northwest Hillsborough communities because of growth in the area. Odessa/Keystone were moved into District 1, which stretches into south Tampa and the South Shore area.

U.S. Census data show the former District 2 had to lose about 23,000 residents to approach a total population of about 300,000. Hillsborough has about 1.2 million people and each district must have nearly the same amount according to the county’s charter.

The new district map was drawn by commissioner Mark Sharpe. His District 7 does not represent any one area and is instead voted for by all county citizens.

“It wasn’t easy to draw up the districts,” Sharpe said. “We supported the Fair District Amendments and had to make them equal in population. In the end I think we did the best we could.”

One of the arguments against the old districts was a portion of southern Hillsborough that normally votes heavily Republican was within District 1, which also represents south and east Tampa. That area retained its snake-like portion of South Shore.

Sandra Murman is the District 1 commissioner. Sharpe said residents in South Shore “like the representation” they have received from Murman and wanted to stay under her jurisdiction.

District 2 Commissioner Victor Crist said he would have liked Odessa and Keystone to remain with Lutz, but understood the population numbers would not allow it.

Victor Crist

“Culturally Lutz and Odessa/Keystone are very similar,” Crist said. “It will be a change for those people I think, but it couldn’t be helped.”

Patrick Manteiga, a Democrat and the publisher of the weekly newspaper La Gaceta, was at the meeting when the districts were announced and was less than pleased with the results.

“That’s the most Republican vote I’ve ever seen,” Manteiga said. “I think the Republican Party did a good job of communicating with its members.”

Manteiga took special exception to District 1 and its extension to the south. Murman did not comment on the new map except to say she approved it with five of the other commissioners.

Beckner voted against the new districts because of the odd shape of District 1 and because he said, “It does not address the concerns of the Hispanic population within the county.”

Beckner, whose District 6 is also at-large like Sharpe’s, created his own map, which he said drew support from Hispanic groups in the area.

Beckner called his version “The People’s Map,” which would have united the southern portion of District 1 with the rest of South Shore. It would have also included much of west Tampa, which has a high percentage of Hispanics, in Murman’s district. Those moves would have made District 1 nearly 36 percent Hispanic instead of the 32 percent from the new districts.

Miller, who represents District 3 including central Tampa, said he voted for the new district because it did not reduce the “black voting power in my district.” He added that he knew neither his nor Beckner’s map had a chance of passing.

District 3 was set up as a minority district by the Voting Rights Act and must maintain at least 58 percent minority population to be in compliance.

The new districts will remain in place for 10 years when the next Census numbers reveal changes in population. To see the new district lines, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/redistricting/data.cfm and click on map H.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Exciting things are happening at Del Webb Bexley, the 55+ active adult residential community just off Sunlake Boulevard, … [Read More...] about New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

TPA-Parkview-Myrtle

Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to thoughtful details and meaningful value … [Read More...] about Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

04/04/2023 – Friends of the Library

Friends of the (Land O’ Lakes) Library will meet on April 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., following its weekly Patio Book Sale from 10 a.m. to noon, at 2818 Collier Parkway. The nonprofit group supports library programs for all ages. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 04/04/2023 – Friends of the Library

04/04/2023 – Library Open House

Pasco County Libraries will host a Master Plan Public Open House on April 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Land O'Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, to gather public opinion. To learn more about the Library Master Plan, visit MyPas.co/PCLSMasterPlan. … [Read More...] about 04/04/2023 – Library Open House

04/05/2023 – Container Gardens

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a master gardener class on April 5 at 6 p.m. A guest speaker will discuss the ins and outs of container gardening. Participants can learn to grow flowers and herbs in convenient containers. Practical ideas and resources will be provided. Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 04/05/2023 – Container Gardens

04/05/2023 – Learn to French Braid

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host a “Learn How to French Braid” class on April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Amber Bruss, of The Salon on 5th, will demonstrate the techniques to style hair in a French braid. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 04/05/2023 – Learn to French Braid

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: