According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Democratic Representative Keith Heard deserves some of the blame for the local redistricting policy.
While the blame for this blatant usurpation falls most squarely on McKillip, other members of the delegation are equally at fault. Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, a well-respected lawmaker, should have recognized McKillip’s meddling for the pointless power play that it is, and stopped it. Sen. Frank Ginn, who said at a recent Rotary Club forum that he favored the local preference for redistricting, also shares blame for the bill, as do Rep. Keith Heard, D-Athens and new Rep. Chuck Williams, R-Watkinsville.
Local legislation requires unanimous consent under House Rules. If Keith Heard had objected to this plan, he could have stopped it. Instead, he is cosponsoring the bill with two Republicans: Doug McKillip and Chuck Williams.
Both the local government and Athens-Clarke Democrats have backed maps that made small changes to all the districts – just enough to even out the districts as required by law. Heard and McKillip have abdicated their responsibilities of representing the will of the people and pushed forward their own maps and their own agenda.
