• Commission to draw the residency maps for 2023 election

Columbus City Council and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced the Council Residential Districting Commission (CRDC) members to be appointed during the February 22, 2021, regular meeting, with Malik Moore as chairperson.

Five residents were selected from the list of 123 applicants. The CRDC will draw the residency maps to be used by Council beginning with the 2023 election.

“This is another step forward in the historic evolution of how City Council serves the people of Columbus,” said Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy.

“The work of the CRDC will enhance the voice of the residents by making Council more accessible to the community.”

The members of the Council Residential Districting Commission are:

• Jeff Cabot
• Monica Cerrezuela
• J. Averi Frost
• Malik Moore, Chair
• Dave Paul

“The charter only allowed Council to appoint four commissioners, with the fifth and final person appointed by the Mayor and Council President to serve as chair,” Remy continued.

“Our finalist pool was of the highest caliber. Any of them would have served the Commission well. Because of this, we are excited to invite the remaining ten to stay involved as Districting Ambassadors to assist the CRDC in engaging as much of the community as possible.”

The Commission’s work will begin in March, with a minimum of nine public meetings on the horizon. The Committee will submit the maps to Council by December 2021. The recommendations made by the CRDC will require a vote of Council. However, Council cannot make any changes to the maps except as necessary to ensure compliance with the Charter.

“I am grateful and honored to have been selected to participate on the Commission and to serve as the chair,” said Malik Moore.

“This process will require us to effectively engage all of our neighbors to garner support and feedback from formal and informal partners. We will need to remain committed to an intentional effort to hear voices who have historically been missed. This process will call on us all to serve, listen and engage.”

“I’m excited that Council is appointing this diverse and thoughtful commission to help shape the future of City Council,” said Council President Shannon G. Hardin.

“These folks know Columbus, and I’m confident in their ability to create residential maps that ensure neighborhood representation.”

In 2018, Columbus residents passed a charter amendment to enhance neighborhood advocacy and amplify community voices inside City Hall. The vote added two Council seats to bring the total number to nine while establishing residential districts for each seat.