Sarasota County successfully had a case dismissed challenging the legality of redistricting a year ahead of the census. That will have significant ramifications in county commission elections this year.

Most notably, Democrat Fredd Atkins, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, will not be able to run in District 1 based on his current residency. Four years ago, now-County Commissioner Mike Moran beat Atkins in a county-wide race to represent District 1, but since the passage of single-member district voting, Atkins hoped to run in a Democrat-leaning district this time. But when county commissioners redistricted when they did, they kept District 1 Republican and they drew Atkins, and the bulk of the Newtown neighborhood, out completely.

Atkins said he’s not terribly surprised to lose a legal challenge, calling the system “stacked” against minority communities. Now? “I’m going to live my life,” he said. Atkins demurred on questions whether he would run for a state legislative post instead.

U.S. District Court William Jung ruled the redistricting, even in am umusual year, was legal so long as race was not the “predominant” reason to redraw lines. On that, arguments that Republicans wrongly paid for a consultant to plot new districts, then directed him to model a map off an anonymous submission later revealed to come from former Republican Party of Sarasota chair Bob Waechter, didn’t violate civil rights for Newtown voters.

Republican Party of Sarasota acting chair Jack Brill celebrated the ruling, and said it proved complaints from Democrats were misguided at best. “The accusation of racism in the redistricting was always spurious, a typical and reprehensible Democrat line of attack on Republicans,” Brill said. “Contrary to the same, tired Democrat attacks, the actions of the County Commission and ruling by Judge Jung means Sarasota County residents will now have more equal representation in the November election.”

County Commissioners, who voted 3-2 to install new lines for the 2020 elections despite a requirement the lines be reviewed again ahead of 2022, always maintained the need to balance populations was critical if voters can now only elect one commissioner.

Sarasota Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said Atkins wasn’t the only commission candidate this year put in a different district as a result of the shifting lines. He was the only one who remains filed as a candidate in a district where he does not live. Atkins remained that way hopeful a judge would rule the lines wrongly disenfranchised Newtown voters, who now will not vote for county commission until 2022.

The shift has benefitted candidates in another way. Candidates qualifying by petition normally could only get signature from within their district, but with lines changing and uncertain, Turner will accept petitions from voters registered anywhere within the county. The deadline for submissions remains Monday at noon.

Moran still faces opposition, from Mike Hutchinson in the Republican primary and from Democrat Mark Pienkos in the general election. The deadline for candidates to qualify by fee is June 12 at noon.