Legislators may change city of Stonecrest before it starts

Voters will decide from 20 candidates for Stonecrest mayor and City Council during the city’s first election March 21. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Voters will decide from 20 candidates for Stonecrest mayor and City Council during the city’s first election March 21. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

As the new city of Stonecrest holds its first election Tuesday, state lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that redraws districts and institutes term limits for the mayor.

The legislation, House Bill 600, was approved by DeKalb County representatives Wednesday and is pending in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The proposal comes as voters in Stonecrest, a city of 50,000 people in southeast DeKalb, are choosing Tuesday from 20 candidates running for mayor and City Council.

HB600 would change Stonecrest’s five City Council districts so they’re less divided by I-20, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Doreen Carter, D-Lithonia. She said it will make district boundaries more closely reflect existing communities.

The legislation also limits the mayor to serving two consecutive four-year terms.

Current Stonecrest districts:

The existing map for the city of Stonecrest's five districts. State legislators are considering a bill that redraws districts so that they don't cross I-20.

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Proposed Stonecrest districts:

The proposed map for the city of Stonecrest's five districts, according to House Bill 600.

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