Leesburg Commission to consider new voting districts
For immediate release: March 11, 2021
Contact: Office of the City Manager
352-728-9786 ext. 1100
citymanager@leesburgflorida.gov
Leesburg Commission to consider new voting districts
LEESBURG, FL - Leesburg’s City Commission will consider adoption of a plan for five new single-member voting districts at their March 22, 2021 meeting. 
In preparation for residential development that is expected to occur in the next few years, the City Commission passed ordinance 20-25 last spring calling for a voter referendum to change the composition of Commission Districts. Leesburg residents were asked to consider a change from three single-member districts and two at-large districts, to five single-member districts. In November 2020, the referendum passed with 68% of voters approving.
Since November, city staff has been working to draft the five new districts. Several concepts such as equal in population, following census blocks, preserving communities of interest, supporting minority voting strength and protecting incumbency were all considered in developing the new districts.
The City Commission reviewed the initial proposal in February. The Second Reading and Public Hearing to consider final adoption of the new plan will take place on March 22.
Approval of the plan will also set elections for three expiring Commission terms in the newly created districts 1, 2 and 4. That election will be conducted in November 2022. The remaining two members of the Commission will be assigned to districts 3 and 5, with an election to be held in 2024. This action allows all Commissioners to duly serve the four-year terms for which they were elected.
For information on the proposed plan, including a map of the districts, please visit the City Commission page of the Leesburg website at www.leesburgflorida.gov/government/city_commission/5districtmap.php or call the City Manager’s Office at 352-728-9786 ext. 1100.