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Senate split still likely for county
By JIM ROSS, Times Staff Writer Citrus County is divided into two state Senate districts. And it looks like that won't change. The Legislature is redrawing district boundaries this year, a process it engages in every decade. The County Commission, many members of the public and even Citrus lawmakers have hoped that the new map would have Citrus in one district instead of two, as it now is. Today, the state Senate is scheduled to vote on various proposed maps. The plans most likely to succeed would divide Citrus into two districts. There are many proposed maps making their way around Tallahassee. New ones still could emerge, and the existing ones could be amended. But the most popular Senate version puts most of Citrus in a district that reaches north to Leon County and east to Baker County. Residents west of U.S. 19 would be part of a district that stretches south to northern Pinellas County. Traditionally, the state House of Representatives allows the Senate to draw Senate boundaries and the Senate allows the House to draw House lines. The final plan must be approved in both houses before it would take effect. Pam Clemmons, a legislative aide to state Sen. Richard Mitchell, D-Jasper, said Mitchell prefers Citrus to be placed in one Senate district. Mitchell currently represents west Citrus. State Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, also wants Citrus in one district. However, she said the most popular Senate map now circulating at least would put most of Citrus in District 3, which stretches north and east. That would increase the likelihood that a candidate from the south part of the district could win the seat. It also would mean that the senator, no matter where he or she is from, would have to pay serious attention to Citrus and its strong voting bloc. Argenziano said she might well run for the Senate and seek to represent that district. "I'm giving it a very serious look. I probably would," she said. "It's probably a Citrus or Marion seat," said state Sen. Anna Cowin, R-Leesburg, who represents east Citrus. Last month, county commissioners sent a letter to Sen. John Laurent, a Bartow Republican who is chairman of a reapportionment subcommittee, asking that Citrus be in only one district. "Unfortunately, we have found that when our county is divided between Senate districts, our needs are not afforded the attention they warrant to the detriment of our community and our constituents," the commission's letter read. "We ask you, in your capacity as chairman, to consider our request and to help facilitate a redistricting plan, which will provide Citrus County sole representation." -- Jim Ross writes about politics in Citrus County. Reach him at 860-7302 or
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