Sun City Grand

Grand desires complicate Surprise redistricting map

Committee members didn’t always agree, but came away unified and developed a new map, which is available for review on the city’s website, http://www.surpriseaz.gov/. The map combines portions of two maps that committee members said they believe fairly represents the city’s population trends.

The proposed changes put the roughly 17,000 residents of Sun City Grand in one district. The age-restricted community is currently represented by two council members. In addition, the proposal would force three sitting council members – Jim Biundo, Skip Hall and Mike Woodard – out of their districts.

Many residents have found themselves on opposite sides of the proposal. Issues have largely centered on whether Sun City Grand, a landlocked community, should retain two council representatives when other portions of the city are growing.

Committee member Eric Cultum has said the redistricting process has become emotional for many residents, particularly those in Sun City Grand, who he believes do not see the big picture and are only trying to satisfy their own interests.

Cultum said the committee worked to ensure there was equity in each new council district and that changes, including Sun City Grand having one council representative and the Original Town Site being meshed together with other portions of the city, must take place for the greater good.

City Council members vetted the redistricting committee’s map for the first time Tuesday night in front of about 20 residents, mainly representing Sun City Grand and Sun Village. Councilman Richard Alton said he believed Sun City Grand was getting an unfair shake in the redistricting process because the maps residents originally viewed and endorsed several months ago during public comment sessions are different than the recommended map the committee forwarded to the City Council.

Alton, a Sun City Grand resident, said he was disappointed that the three original maps developed by National Demographics Corp. were still not on the table. He believes committee members and city officials who have endorsed the new map committed a bait and switch to appease their interests.

Jeff Mihelich, Community and Economic Development director, responded by saying that all four maps — the three original and fourth recommended map — are still on the table as the process continues in deciding which map to officially endorse and approve.

Council members John Williams and Mike Woodard agreed that the committee’s recommended map does a fine job in creating uniformity — roughly 19,700 residents per district, while also a fair representation of Hispanic residents — and doesn’t create any sense of gerrymandering.

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