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Redistricting Repercussions
Posted 01-13-2002
The final maps are in, and the redistricting for congressional
districts in Pennsylvania is pretty much final. Any court challenge at this
point will have little chance of success. We knew we were losing a
congressman in western Pennsylvania, but I don't know if anyone imagined
districts as they have been configured. As I see it, there are two groups of
losers. First the Democratic Party (that was expected), but more importantly
the people of the region.
When municipalities are
carved into pieces, there can be no rational explanation other than pure
gerrymandering. In Westmoreland County, the bulk of Hempfield Township is in
the newly configured 18th District while two precincts are in the
12th District. East Huntingdon Township is cut almost in half. Unity
Township, for years represented by Congressman Murtha, will only have a
little portion still in the 12th District. In Washington County, Charleroi s
cut in half with Congressman Mascara's residence literally sitting on the
border between the 12th and 18th Districts. Armstrong and Fayette Counties
also have municipalities divided into pieces.
So often these days, people
feel disenfranchised from their elected officials. Dividing municipalities
simply fosters that feeling to an even greater extent. It makes the job of
local elected officials even more difficult because they now must develop
working relationships with two congressional staffs. When they need help for
project funding, they will have to lobby two congressmen.
Even the configuration of the
districts is suspect. Fayette County will have the majority of the county in
the 12th District but the southern portion will be in the Congressional
District of Bill Shuster who is from Altoona. How much attention do you
think those folks will get? Westmoreland County is carved into pieces. One
prong of the 12th District goes north to New Kensington and another prong
goes south to Monessen. The 18th comes in from Allegheny County on the west
at North Huntingdon and goes through the Route 30 corridor up to the eastern
end of the county taking in places like Donegal Township. The 4th District
has only Murrysville, Export, and Delmont. The rest of that district is in
other counties. So how much attention will those communities receive?
In practical terms, there
isn't much anyone can do about what has taken place except remember the
folks that drew these districts when it comes time for their re-election.
Another factor in all of this gerrymandering is that this region will only
have four congressional representatives and three of the districts are now
based in Allegheny County. Under the old configuration, Bill Coyne who is
retiring and Mike Doyle had districts based in Allegheny County. Frank
Mascara's district was based in Washington County, Jack Murtha's was based
in Cambria County, and former Rep Ron Klink, who was from Westmoreland
County, had a district that had its largest percentage of voters in Beaver
County.
Now, the 18th District will
have 55% of it in Allegheny County. The 14th District will be entirely in
Allegheny County, and the 4th District will be primarily in the North Hills
of Allegheny County. Only the 12th District will have its largest portion
(24.3%) in Westmoreland County. But, it is divided among nine western
Pennsylvania counties. If you think this issue isn't important, I'll tell
you, the federal representatives will pay the most attention to where they
know they can get their votes.
All in all, the new districts
DO NOT improve things for the citizens of western Pennsylvania. I don't care
what spin is put on it by the Republicans that drew them up. Spreading
districts from the Allegheny Mountains to the Ohio border doesn't make
sense, and it will not improve people's relationships with their federal
representatives. The time has come for a truly bi-partisan commission to be
put in place so that in ten years, no matter what party is in power,
districts will be drawn based on reasonable criteria and not pure partisan
politics. |
