Wine Country Times

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is currently seeking applications from residents for the newly established Sonoma County Advisory Redistricting Commission, according to a recent press release.

The redistricting commission will assist the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in redrawing supervisorial district boundaries using 2020 Census data and will consist of 15 total members with a term length of nine months. The board also approved the use of $130,000 to aid the redistricting process, including facilitation and training services.

Ten of these members will be district appointees with two members assigned per district and the remaining five members are to be at large-positions.

Members will be chosen among several criteria including geographical area, race, ethnicity, age groups and others to ensure broad and diverse representation.

According to the County Boards and Commissions website, commissioners are expected to attend 12 official meetings throughout the year starting early May. Members will also have subsidiary meetings for training, public hearings and receiving redistricting information.

These commissioners will also need to commit to attending several meetings in a short timeframe during October and November due to the board's goal to adopt final maps by Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors, extended the invitation of applicants to any with a passion for civic improvements.

“We are inviting individuals who have a passion for civic engagement to apply to serve on this Commission,” Hopkins said. “With your help, we will create a citizen empowerment process to use the Census data to redraw the supervisorial district boundaries with a focus on equity.”

The application period began on Feb. 23 and will continue until Tuesday, March 23. Those that are interested in applying are encouraged to complete an application form on the County Boards and Commissions website.

All Sonoma Country residents who are 18 years or older are eligible to apply barring Sonoma County elected officials, their family members and their staff; paid campaign staff of an elected official are also ineligible.