In November 1999,
the voters of Pinellas County adopted an amendment to the county charter
that increases the number of County Commissioners and changes the way
in which they are elected. The change was implemented with the November
2000 elections.
The new system
requires that there will be seven Commissioners. Three live in specific
residential districts but are elected countywide by all of the voters
countywide. Four are elected from single-member districts with only
the voters within each specific district electing the Commissioner from
that district. Each voter votes for a Commissioner from their single-member
district and the at-large Commissioners who are on the ballot.
Boundary lines have
been drawn to establish three at-large districts and four single-member
districts. Florida law requires that the Board of County Commissioners
establish the new district boundaries. The districts are required to
be compact and as nearly equal in population as possible. The Board
has taken into consideration physical, natural, jurisdictional and voting
precinct boundaries.
The Board of County
Commissioners sought the assistance of the public in establishing the
new district boundaries. All residents were encouraged to attend a series
of public meetings and share opinions concerning the new commission
district boundaries.
The
new districts were approved at the Board of County Commissioners meeting
February 15, 2000
For
more information, please call the Department of Public Affairs at 464-4600
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