Redistricting Forum to be Held Wednesday

The Milwaukee County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council and the Whitefish Bay Women's Club will co-host a community public forum on the Milwaukee County Board's redistricting plan at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the , 600 E. Henry Clay St.  

Milwaukee County is required to redraw its electoral districts every 10 years to adjust for changes in population. The County Board on April 21 that would cut the board from 19 members to 18 members and would eliminate the seat of Supervisor Joe Rice, a conservative who has been on the board since 2004. The new map divides Whitefish Bay into two districts for the first time since 1970.

The ICC and several Milwaukee County communities, including Whitefish Bay, Fox Point and Bayside, have adopted .

In a news release, ICC officials said the redistricting plan was hastily developed and with little to no stakeholder input. Some critics also indicated that the board failed to properly consider and debate alternatives presented by other entities, including plans calling for a reduced board size. 

The community public forum will provide an opportunity for area citizens to learn more about the redistricting process and to offer valuable insight and advice on the process and the district maps to be in place for the next decade.  

The community public forum will include a panel discussion on this topic with the moderator, Rob Henken, the president of the Public Policy Forum.

“Ensuring equality of every vote is one of our nation’s foremost principles and a fair redistricting process is the key component in that effort,” said Franklin Mayor Thomas Taylor, chairman of the ICC. “I urge all those who care about the future of Milwaukee County and its government to attend and provide their valuable input at this important meeting."