ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Two maps remain after months of reviewing 30 redistricting proposals in Orange County. Voters approved expanding the county’s districts from six to eight last year, but residents are split on how the maps will impact two areas: Winter Park and Pine Hills.
This week, residents made their case to county leaders.
One speaker said, “This is about unite, not disunite. Map 1 unites all the cities combined together.”
Another added, “Map 7B puts and keeps that community together. That’s probably the first time that’s happened.”
The debate centers on which map—1A or 7B—should be selected as the county’s new district map. With the expansion, each district will need to represent about 178,000 people. The divide comes from how Pine Hills and Winter Park are grouped.
One resident explained, “Even though when a part is a municipality, the people of Winter Park will still vote in the same election as the people of Pine Hills. That may shift a commissioner’s focus.”
Map 1A places Pine Hills in the same district as Winter Park, Maitland, and Eatonville, a move Pine Hills advocates argue would weaken their voice.
But some leaders, like Winter Park Mayor Sheila DiCicco, believe urban areas share common needs. “Our police call center assists with Maitland police when needed. We also share elementary school Dommerich with Maitland,” DiCicco said.
Map 7B would instead place Pine Hills with Maitland, Eatonville, and Orlovista in District 7, while Winter Park would fall into District 5 with more rural areas.
Winter Park City Manager Randy Knight said in a statement to News 6, “Map 7B would place Winter Park in a district that stretches all the way to the Brevard County line.”
Sandra Fatmi-Hall, with the Pine Hills Community Council, said the map would better reflect community needs.
“When you have a city and you are county dollars. We don’t have that at all. I think that would be an issue,” she said.
County leaders are expected to make their final decision on the maps next month.