The proposed new county districts. 

Dane County Board nears final vote on new districts

Supervisors Downing and Doolan would represent communities in the Mount Horeb area

The Dane County Board met last week for a public hearing and to take action on a tentative supervisory district map. The board approved map “C,” which would keep Mount Horeb in the 30th county district but would slightly alter that district’s boundaries. 

The county board is scheduled to adopt a final supervisory district map on November 18, and county staff continue to fine tune the proposal.

Following months of work by the Redistricting Commission, complicated by severe delays of the 2020 Census data, the board worked within a condensed timeframe to take action on a map that was recommended from the commission. The Redistricting Commission submitted three maps to the Executive Committee on September 30, and in the week following, the full County Board heard a presentation of the maps and the Executive Committee narrowed the options down to one map.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work of the Redistricting Commission, their commitment to public input, and the maps that we received given extremely challenging circumstances,” said County Board Chair Analiese Eicher.  “I’m hopeful this process can be a model for others as an example of a fair, public-driven map drawing process.” The tentative map will now go to Dane County municipalities to adjust ward boundaries and then submit ward plans to the County.  

The greater Mount Horeb area includes two country districts, currently represented by Patrick Downing (Dist. 30) and Michele Doolan (Dist. 28). 

Under the tentative supervisory district map, Downing would represent most or all of the village of Mount Horeb and towns including Perry (where he resides), Blue Mounds, Primrose, Springdale and Montrose. Doolan would represent the Village of Blue Mounds (which is not the same as the Town of Blue Mounds), along with much or all of Vermont, Black Earth, Cross Plains (where she lives), Berry and Mazomanie. 

According to senior county planner Brian Standing, what district any candidate or sitting supervisor (assuming they run for re-election and win) would represent after the map is finalized would depend on where they live. Candidates must reside within the district they represent.  

“The new district is all communities I have represented before,” said Downing of the 30th. “Folks of villages and towns that value agricultural, small-town rural life, while appreciating the larger community where many of them make their living.” 

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