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Georgia's
Population Increase Could Lead to a Divided
Augusta
When
Congressman Charlie Norwood spoke at the January
Business @ Breakfast, the topic was a divided
Augusta. But it was not a speech addressing
locals not getting along. Instead, he discussed
the very real possibility that when Georgia's
congressional districts are redrawn, the community
will find itself split between two districts.
Because
Georgia's population has increased so much
over the last decade, two new congressional
districts will be added by a special session
of the Georgia Legislature this summer. Redrawing
the districts may very well mean a split Richmond
County.
James
F. West, Jr. and Congressman Charlie Norwood
following the January @ Breakfast meeting.
But
U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood thinks
that the split district could have its advantages.
"If you draw this kind of district, since
Richmond County puts so much population into
it, you're probably talking about a Democrat
from Augusta, " Mr. Norwood said. "I
wouldn't be against that. I could use their
help when it comes to Fort Gordon or SRS or
stuff like that. That just helps me get votes
on the other side of the aisle for Augusta."
Dividing
the district would most likely extend Mr.
Norwood's district north to include Athens,
which would provide the Augusta metro area
a distinct advantage when pursuing the Medical
College of Georgia and the University of Georgia's
shared biomedical interests.
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Daphne
joined the Augusta Metro Chamber in 1992 as
the member relations assistant, advancing
to finance coordinator later that same year.
Throughout the next several years, she assumed
the position of Finance and Membership Director.
In 1997 the Finance and Human Resource Department
was created and Daphne was charged with overseeing
its functions as director.