Grossmont Healthcare District will hold second public hearing to review proposed maps for zone-based elections
March 29, 2019 General
The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has taken the next step as part of its transition from district-wide to zone-based elections for its five-member board of directors.
Draft maps showing proposed boundaries for five zones across GHD’s 750-square-mile district are now available for public review.
The public is invited to review the maps and provide input at the second of two public hearings, the first of which was held on March 15. The hearing will be held on April 2, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the GHD Conference Center, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa.
The public hearing will include the rationale behind the composition of the proposed maps by representatives from a company that specializes in demographics and mapping. Comments will be accepted from members of the public, as well as GHD board members.
“We look forward to hearing input from voters about the boundaries for the proposed maps,” said Randy Lenac, GHD board president. “If someone cannot attend in person, we’re also accepting written input.”Written correspondence also can be sent to Barry Jantz, GHD CEO, at bjantz@grossmonthealthcare.org.
Once a final map is approved, the first zone-based election with board members elected only by voters residing within a specific election area would be held in November 2020.
GHD’s decision to transition to zone-based elections was pursuant to the 2001 California Voting Rights Act. Since its establishment in 1952, GHD has used an at-large election system in which board members have been elected by voters of the entire district. GHD’s transition is similar to that taking place statewide with hundreds of local public agencies, including healthcare, water and school districts, as well as cities and other governmental jurisdictions.
Four previous public hearings on GHD’s transition process have been held, including two in December one in January, and one in March.