DOVER - The results of the 2010 census made it inevitable that Delaware’s population shifts would result in changes to legislative districts.
The state leaves it up to lawmakers to handle the redistricting process, which is handled by special commissions in many other states.
The Democratic majority in the State House of Representatives and the Republican minority are in agreement on the fate of one district – the 11th. It will leave New Castle County and move south. They differ on which other district should be moved south to follow the progression of population growth.
Each of the 41 districts was to have an average population of 21,900.
State Representative and House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) produced proposed maps Thursday. He called the process challenging in several ways: each district had to be formed of contiguous territory, be formed by natural boundaries such as roads or streams, not be created “so as to unduly favor any person or political party,” and where possible attempt to retain majority-minority districts, where minorities make up more than 50% of the population.
[caption id="attachment_11760" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="Click to view Democrats proposed House 11th District"]
Schwartzkopf said looking at several districts, his caucus decided that the 11th and 20th districts had to be closed. Both are now in New Castle County. The 11th would be shifted to form a new district which will include part of Kent County adjacent to the Maryland line. The new 20th district would be formed between Georgetown and Lewes in Sussex County.
Both of the districts to be moved, or “closed,” are currently represented by Republicans.
Schwartzkopf said politics were not part of their process. “We drew these district lines without the political data. We didn’t even have access to it,” Schwartzkopf said. He also said it was later found that one of the two districts had a Democratic majority.
11th district Representative Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) would be moved into a district with fellow Republican Deborah Hudson (R-Fairthorne). 20th district Representative Nick Manolakos (R-Limestone Hills) and 22nd district Representative Joe Miro (R-Pike Creek Valley) would also be in the same district.
[caption id="attachment_11761" align="alignright" width="120" caption="Click to view Democrats proposed House 20th district"]
Lavelle was sharply critical of the Democratic plan, calling it “blatant incumbent protection with a partisan flair.”
The Democratic plan followed a public comment period that lasted almost the entire month of April. Schwartzkopf said suggestions that came in included a proposal to move Dewey Beach back into the 14th district, which he represents. Also, Georgetown and north Georgetown, with a significant Hispanic population, would be part of one district instead of being served by several different representatives.
Earlier in the week, the minority House Republican Caucus released its version of new legislative maps, which would move the 3rd and 11th districts out of New Castle County. The 3rd district would be in Kent County bordered by Cheswold, Felton and the Maryland state line. The 11th district would be created in Sussex County with boundaries that include the inland bays, Georgetown and Lewes.
Under the Republican plan, Lavelle would be moved into the 10th district, which is represented by Representative Dennis E. Williams (D-Talleyville). Representative Helene Keeley (D-Wilmington) would be moved into the 4th district, where Representative Gerald Brady (D-Wilmington West) serves.
[caption id="attachment_11764" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="Click to view proposed Republican House 11th District "]
“It obviously starts with the demographic changes,” Lavelle said of the Republican proposal that does away with the district he has served for over a decade. “It recognizes that people are moving south and it recognizes, as we all do, that a couple of seats are going to move south with that. So we did try to strike a balance with that.”
29th district Representative Lincoln Willis (R-Clayton) said he is already serving about 5,000 more constituents than is called for, and he welcomes the relief with a new 3rd district. “We’ve got to, in essence, ‘lose’ almost 5,000 people out of the 29th”, Willis said.
Reaction to proposed House redistricting maps
House Majority leader Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) contends politics did not figure into the Democratic caucus's redistricting maps.
[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Schwartzkopf1.mp3|titles=House Majority leader Peter Schwartzkopf]
House Majority leader Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) says a period of public comment in April on redistricting yielded some helpful suggestions
[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/schwartzkopf2.mp3|titles=House Majority leader Peter Schwartzkopf]
House Minority leader Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) hopes the GOP maps will be part of the redistricting conversation.
[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Lavelle.mp3|titles=House Minority leader Greg Lavelle]
The Democratic proposal would also have an impact on State Representative Brad Bennett, whose 32nd district would be reshaped, leaving him in the 31st district now served by Representative Darryl Scott. Both are Dover-area Democrats.
“I’m happy with the way the lines look,” Bennett said. “The way the computer did it, it pushed everybody south.”
Bennett said he was in the process of moving and he would be a resident of the redrawn 32nd district by next year’s election.
[caption id="attachment_11769" align="alignright" width="120" caption="Click to view comparison of old and new House district maps in Southern Delaware"]
The House Democratic Caucus will hold a public hearing on redistricting Thursday May 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the House Chambers of Legislative Hall. Republicans, meanwhile, welcome more comment on their proposals at contact@delawarestatehouse.com.
Senate Democrats released their proposed map Thursday. The biggest changes in the Senate configuration are the creation of a new district Sussex County and the merging of two New Castle County districts. The new district in Sussex includes Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Milton. The merged New Castle County district is home to a pair of incumbents - Newark-area Democrat David Sokola and Senate minority whip Liane Sorenson, a Republican from Hockessin.
[caption id="attachment_11768" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="Click to view comparison of old and new House district maps in Northern Delaware"]
There will be a public hearing on the proposed Senate map June 2 at 7 pm in the Senate chamber at Legislative Hall. (For more on proposed Senate maps: click here)
According to Schwartzkopf, one bill will emerge to be voted on with recommended maps for House and State Senate districts. The process is to be completed by June 30th.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in both houses of the General Assembly, 26-15 in the House and 14-7 in the Senate. Republicans were in control the last time legislative districts were redrawn ten years ago.
