Redistricting Begins This Week: What to Watch for
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The first public hearings held by the new redistricting committee will take place this evening at Warwick City Hall, with more than dozen meetings set to occur by the end of the year.
The special commission, which is comprised of legislators as well as six public members, will work on developing new congressional, House and Senate district lines, a process that occurs once every decade to reflect shifts in population detected by the U.S. Census.
Heading up the commission are Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, and Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston), a House Deputy Majority Leader and Vice Chair of the House Committee on Oversight.
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What To Watch For
Keeping a close eye on the process will be Common Cause Executive Director John Marion, who said his organization will be “will be closely watching the process so it doesn't become an exercise in incumbent protection.”
Among issues Marion said voters should pay attention to are: Where votes will be added for the race on the 1st Congressional District; the number majority Latino districts created; and whether any “dissidents” will be punished with difficult districts.
Marion also said he’ll be looking to see if any state lawmaker who faced a difficult race in 2012 will be given an easier district or if anyone’s opponent will be redistricted out. He also noted that voters should pay look to see whether some African American legislators be able to preserve their seats with the increase in Latinos.
Minority Districts A Focus
Over the last decade, the Latino population increased by more than 40 percent, according to the Census. While it is unclear how many more minority districts will be created, the consensus is the number will certainly increase.
In 2004, the General Assembly agreed to redraw 12 Senate districts in and around Providence. At the time, Senator Juan Pichardo, the State’s first Hispanic Senator, praised the redrawing plan, noting that it improved the chances of representatives from the minority community to be elected.
“These plans increase the opportunities for inclusion of the minority community,” he said at the time. “I’ve been on the record supporting a more inclusive Senate and my position has not changed. Today, I go on the record again and congratulate most especially the tenacity and perseverance of the African American community, for we concur that these redrawn maps agreed to this morning are an important step in the direction of empowerment for all communities in Rhode Island. An open seat in South Providence provides an improved likelihood that another representative of the minority community will be elected to the State Senate in the fall. Increasing minority representation gives a stronger voice to our specific concerns, inspires our youth to become more involved, and increases our stature in civic and governmental affairs.”
Who’s On The Commission?
Other representatives named to the commission by Speaker of the House Gordon Fox are: Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), Rep. Donald J. Lally Jr. (D-Dist. 33, Narragansett, North Kingstown, South Kingstown) and Rep. William San Bento Jr. (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket, North Providence).
Senators named to the panel by President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed are: Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Sen. Beatrice A. Lanzi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston) and Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence).
Named to the commission by House Minority Leader Brian C. Newberry are Rep. Daniel P. Reilly (R-dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport) and Rep. Joseph A. Trillo (R-dist. 24, Warwick), the House Minority Whip.
Named to the panel by Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere are Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol) and Sen. Francis T. Maher Jr. (R-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich).
In addition to the legislators, six public members will serve on the commission. Named by Speaker Fox are Felix Appolonia of West Warwick, Ray Rickman of Providence and Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan of Providence. President Paiva Weed’s public member appointees are Francis J. Flanagan of Middletown, Matthew F. Gunnip of Pawtucket and Arthur V. Strother Sr. of Providence.
Rep. Ucci said the goal is create districts so that all Rhode Islanders are represented equally.
“The purpose of redistricting every decade is to achieve the one-person, one-vote goal that ensures that all Rhode Islanders are represented fairly and equally,” Ucci said. “By creating a diverse commission to draw up new districts, we are providing an open and transparent process for voters.”
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