In a 4-1 vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution that could lead to a change in how county leaders are selected.
Though not on the agenda ahead of the Dec. 9 meeting, Commissioner John Shearl requested the resolution be added for a vote. The resolution, which signals a majority belief among commissioners that redistricting is necessary, will be sent to Sen. Kevin Corbin and Rep. Karl Gillespie for introduction to the N.C. General Assembly. If the measure is approved at the state level, the county will have permission to engage in a redistricting conversation and vote.
A similar measure was passed in November 2023 in a 3-2 vote with then-Commissioners Paul Higdon, Danny Antoine and John Shearl voting in favor and Josh Young and Gary Shields voting against. According to Shearl, Gillespie requested the resolution be voted on again now that Higdon’s spot on the board has been filled by Commissioner Barry Breeden.
The five members of the Board of Commissioners are elected from three districts:
• District One – Highlands, Ellijay, Flats and Sugarfork with one representative elected every four years.
• District Two – Iotla, Millshoal, Union, Smithbridge and all Franklin districts with at least one seat up for election every two years due to the staggered four-year terms.
• District Three – Burningtown, Cartoogechaye, Cowee and Nantahala with one representative elected every four years.
Commissioners Young (District 2) and Breeden (District 3) were elected in 2024 and the seats of Commissioners Shields, Antoine (both District 2) and Shearl (District 1) will be open for the 2026 election.
“In my opinion, District 1 and District 3 is disenfranchised,” Shearl said. Because if you’re in District 1 and District 3, you may only seek office once every four years. If you’re in District 2, you may seek office every two years.”
He said the resolution would only start a conversation about redistricting and how new districts could be drawn and would not send any specific redistricting proposal to the state. Instead, the resolution would fulfill state requirements for moving along the process so the commissioners could choose to or not to change how it determines its members.
“It will be up to the board of commissioners to change it or not change it,” Shearl said. “But I also question how long it’s been since there has been a population study in all these precincts of Macon County.”
“I would probably support this on next month’s agenda,” Young said. “Put it on the agenda, publish it, let the public come speak about it, we’ll take input. If you can wait a month, I wouldn’t have a problem supporting this.”
Shearl said the measure did not require a public hearing and delaying the vote would further delay the redistricting conversation.
“The reason this has come back up is because when I came on, Rep. Gillespie asked for a new resolution,” Breeden said. “At the time, I don’t think I was ready for it … I’d support it tonight, I’ll support it next month, whenever it comes up. Because what it is is just what you said, it’s just to send it to the state for them to say yes and then let’s try to figure out what the best possible solution is.”
Young said he would vote against the measure on the principle of it having been brought up for a vote before the public had an opportunity to comment on the decision. All others voted in favor of the resolution and it passed 4-1.