Pennsylvania is in the midst of having its legislative districts redrawn, and the proposed changes would have a big impact on Berks County.
The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission on Dec. 16 released proposed maps for the state’s House and Senate districts. The passage of the first draft of the new maps is a crucial moment in the once-in-a-decade redistricting process.
The maps were drafted and approved by the five-person panel made up of the four legislative leaders from both parties and a nonpartisan chairperson selected by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The vote on maps for 203 House seats and 50 Senate seats triggered a period of public comment and objections. The commission will then produce a final map, after which legal challenges can be made before the state Supreme Court.
There is, however, a bit of a time crunch to get the maps finalized.
Candidates for legislative seats can start circulating nominating petitions to get on the May 17 primary ballots in about two months, and officials from the Department of State have said that counties need the maps by Jan. 24 to produce petitions.
As the proposed maps currently stand, Berks would see significant changes.
There are nine House districts that cover parts of the county. Under the preliminary map, that number would decrease to eight and shift a few of the districts.
Gone from Berks would be the 134th, which is represented by Republican Ryan Mackenzie, and the 187th, which is represented by Republican Gary Day. However, the county would see the addition of the 99th, which is represented by Republican David Zimmerman.
There are four Senate districts that cover parts of Berks. Under the preliminary map, that number would decrease to three and nearly all the districts would be shifted.
Berks would lose the 24th, which is represented by Republican Bob Mensch; the 29th, which is represented by Republican David Argall; and the 44th, which is represented by Democrat Katie Muth.
The only district staying put would be the 11th, which is represented by Ruscombmanor Township Democrat Judy Schwank.
The two new districts in the county would be the 16th, which is represented by Republican Patrick Browne of Lehigh County, and the 48th, which is represented by Republican Chris Gebhard of Lebanon County.
Here’s a look at which municipalities would be included in the new districts:
House District 5 (currently held by Rep. Barry Jozwiak)
- Bern Township
- Bethel Township
- Centre Township
- Jefferson Township
- Lower Heidelberg Township
- Marion Township
- Ontelaunee Township
- Penn Township
- Perry Township
- South Heidelberg Township
- Spring Township, part
- Tulpehocken Township
- Bernville
- Centerport
- Leesport
- Robesonia
- Shoemakersville
- Wernersville
- Womelsdorf
House District 99 (currently held by Rep. David Zimmerman)
- Parts of northern Lancaster County
- Brecknock Township
- Cumru Township, part
- Spring Township, part
- Mohnton
House District 124 (currently held by Rep. Jerry Knowles)
- Albany Township
- Greenwich Township
- Maxatawny Township
- Tilden Township
- Upper Bern Township
- Upper Tulpehocken Township
- Windsor Township
- Hamburg
- Kutztown
- Lenhartsville
House District 126 (currently held by Rep. Mark Rozzi)
- Exeter Township, part
- Lower Alsace Township
- Muhlenberg Township
- Mount Penn
- Reading, part
- St. Lawrence
House District 127 (currently held by Rep. Manuel Guzman)
- Cumru Township, part
- Kenhorst
- Reading, part
- Shillington
House District 128 (currently held by Rep. Mark Gillen)
- Amity Township
- Caernarvon Township
- Cumru Township, part
- Douglass Township
- Exeter Township, part
- Robeson District
- Union Township
- Birdsboro
- New Morgan
House District 129 (currently held by Rep. Jim Cox)
- Spring Township, part
- Sinking Spring
- Reading, part
- West Reading
- Wyomissing
House District 130 (currently held by Rep. David Maloney)
- Alsace Township
- Colebrookdale Township
- District Township
- Earl Township
- Hereford Township
- Longswamp Township
- Maidencreek Township
- Oley Township
- Pike Township
- Richmond Township
- Rockland Township
- Ruscombmanor Township
- Washington Township
- Bally
- Bechtelsville
- Boyertown
- Fleetwood
- Lyons
- Topton
Senatorial District 11 (currently held by Sen. Judy Schwank)
- Alsace Township
- Cumru Township
- Exeter Township
- Lower Alsace Township
- Maxatawny Township
- Muhlenberg Township
- Oley Township
- Richmond Township
- Ruscombmanor Township
- Spring Township
- Fleetwood
- Kenhorst
- Kutztown
- Laureldale
- Lyons
- Mohnton
- Reading
- Shillington
- Sinking Spring
- St. Lawrence
- Topton
- West Reading
- Wyomissing
Senatorial District 48 (currently held by Sen. Chris Gebhard)
- Bern Township
- Bethel Township
- Brecknock Township
- Caernarvon Township
- Centre Township
- Heidelberg Township
- Jefferson Township
- Lower Heidelberg Township
- Marion Township
- North Heidelberg Township
- Penn Township
- Robeson Township
- South Heidelberg Township
- Tilden Township
- Tulpehocken Township
- Union Township
- Upper Bern Township
- Upper Tulpehocken Township
- Bernville
- Birdsboro
- Centerport
- New Morgan
- Robesonia
- Wernersville
- Womelsdorf
Senatorial District 16 (currently held by Sen. Patrick Browne)
- Albany Township
- Amity Township
- Colebrookdale Township
- District Township
- Douglass Township
- Earl Township
- Greenwich Township
- Hereford Township
- Longswamp Township
- Maidencreek Township
- Ontelaunee Township
- Pike Township
- Perry Township
- Rockland Township
- Washington Township
- Windsor Township
- Bally
- Bechtelsville
- Boyertown
- Hamburg
- Leesport
- Lenhartsville
- Shoemakersville
Source: Berkshire mont
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