By Leann Schenke

DOVER — After the U.S. Census data revealed the Kent County’s population grew by nearly 20,000 people over the last 10 years, Levy Court is moving through its redistricting process with the goal of evening out the amount of people represented in each district.

The 1st District — which currently covers the northernmost area of the county from the Maryland border to the Delaware Bay — saw the most growth, County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange said during a Tuesday Levy Court committee meeting.

The population in the 1st District is just under 35,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. It was followed in growth by the 4th District, which covers the southeastern portion of Kent County, with its population of nearly 28,000.

Given the growth in the 1st District, Levy Court introduced a redistricting ordinance Oct. 26 that proposes shrinking the geographic size of that district. To accommodate that change, Mr. Petit de Mange outlined these district changes:

In the 6th District — Kent County’s most rural district, which currently extends along the western half of the county from the New Castle County border to Sussex County — will pick up the western portion of the 1st District from Kenton up to near Clayton.

The 2nd District, as proposed, will extend up to Kenton. The town of Kenton will remain in the 1st District, however.

The 3rd District will include all of Cheswold, where it was previously in the 1st District.

The Chestnut Run area will move from the 4th District to the 5th District.

Kent County is represented by seven commissioners — one for each of the six voting districts and one at-large commissioner who represents, and is voted into office, by the entire county.

The commissioners will vote on the proposed redistrict maps in an upcoming business meeting.

Per Delaware law, the county is obligated to appoint a commission tasked with analyzing data from the U.S. Census to form new voting districts within 60 days of the data’s release.

Much like for the General Assembly, the local process was delayed this year by about five months.

In anticipation of the U.S. Census data being released in August, Levy Court appointed members to the Kent County Redistricting Commission on July 27. Those members are Temple Carter, chairperson; Jackie McCabe; Glenn Gauvry, Matthew Bucher, vice chairperson; Mike Devers; Margaret M. Dean; and Paul Flemming.

Mr. Petit de Mange said Mike Ward also assisted in the effort given his background in geographic information system mapping.

Each member was tasked with looking at the 2020 U.S. Census data and reapportioning the county election districts according to the growth represented in the data.

“The state law requires that we look at the six Levy Court districts and readjust the populations so that we’re in a tolerance of 15% (plus or minus) or a target number, the equalization number, for the new population,” Mr. Petit de Mange said.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the county population in 2010 was 162,310 and in 2020 it was 181,851.

The target population per district is 30,308.5 and each district is afforded a 15% deviation tolerance amount. That 30,308.5 number is determined by taking the county’s 2020 population amount and dividing it by six (the amount of voting districts in the county).

The population totals in each district can deviate by 34,855 people at the maximum positive 15% or 25,762 people at the minimum negative 15%.

Even with the nearly 20,000 worth of population growth, the county’s districts are currently all still within the 15% positive or negative threshold. However, Mr. Petit de Mange said the district maps need to last for 10 years.

“This data is already a year old, a year and a half old, because it was done in April 2020,” he said. “The commission and the staff felt it was important that we still deliver to you a recommendation, so we have a map that 10 years from now is still within that 15% tolerance.”

The 1st District currently has the highest amount of deviation at 14.9%, which will likely tip over the 15% threshold before 2030.

The county is permitted to adjust the maps after the ordinance is approved. Mr. Petit de Mange said it’s not uncommon for the Department of Elections to find areas that need to be adjusted to avoid splitting polling places.

Mr. Petit de Mange praised the Redistricting Commission’s work completing the maps on an abbreviated timeline compared to past redistricting years. He said with 2022 being an election year in Delaware, it was important to have the maps drawn up as soon as possible.

“People are starting to get ready to announce their candidacies and things like that,” he said. “They need to know where their boundaries are.”