Board of Supervisors Approves County Redistricting Plan

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to redistrict Fairfax County on Tuesday.

As expected, the plan keeps the county at nine districts. Any attempt to will have to wait until after the next census in 2020.

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, who led redistricting efforts as Chair of the Legislative Committee, was pleased with the overall tenor of the process, particularly compared to what is taken place in Richmond. "From Day One to the conclusion it was cordial and fair," he said. "Leaders comported themselves the way citizens expect them to."

Seven precincts switched districts, with Hunt, formerly in Mount Vernon moving to Springfield.

"I hate to lose people," Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland said. "But the plan is essentially a good one."

One of the other notable boundary changes occurred in the Fairfax Corners area where the Monument precinct is now split between Braddock and Springfield District.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said the Monument area was a point of focus. “We looked into several ways to avoid splitting it, but weren’t able to find a solution,” he said.

While at the state and federal levels redistricting has been marked by partisanship, at the county level that was largely absent according to Herrity.

Some called for a more transparent process as discussion between supervisors occurred largely out of public view, but Herrity did not think that was a concern. “I actually think the transparency was very good. I didn’t have any issues with it.”

State law makes the precinct plans effective immediately but the changes still need to be approved by the U.S. Attorney General.

Note: All of the county plans that were under consideration can be viewed here. The plan that was approved, 9A4, is on page 25 of the "Proposed Redistricting Plans" report.