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House Majority releases draft district map, GOP leaders disapprove

Roman Battaglia
/
Delaware Public Media

State House Democrats released their draft of new district lines Wednesday night.

After every census, state lawmakers are tasked with re-drawing the district lines for the next decade.

 

Continuing a trend in development and growth, Sussex County grew by more than 40,000 people, a 20 percent increase since 2010.

 

This population growth warranted an entire new district in Delaware’s southern county. Because State Rep. Gerald Brady announced his retirement next year, his district, the fourth, moves south, finding a new home on the Long Neck Peninsula.

 

And according to House Majority staff, other than Brady, only one other representative was pushed out of their district, Republican Rep. Michael Ramone of the 21st.

 

Ramone lived no more than 200 feet away from his old district line. And because neighboring district 23 was the smallest in the state by population, it had to grow.

 

The House Minority caucus say Ramone had no input in the drawing of these maps, and they’ll be soon releasing their own draft map showing a better way to draw the lines to preserve Ramone’s seat

 

House lawmakers are seeking the public’s input on the draft maps at a public hearing Monday, October 18th.

 

Roman Battaglia is a corps member withReport for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.
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