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What the preliminary redrawn legislative maps mean for Berks County

The Citizen

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)

House District 99 (currently held by Rep. David Zimmerman)

House District 124 (currently held by Rep. Jerry Knowles)

House District 126 (currently held by Rep. Mark Rozzi)

House District 127 (currently held by Rep. Manuel Guzman)

House District 128 (currently held by Rep. Mark Gillen)

House District 129 (currently held by Rep. Jim Cox)

House District 130 (currently held by Rep. David Maloney)

Senatorial District 11 (currently held by Sen. Judy Schwank)

Senatorial District 48 (currently held by Sen. Chris Gebhard)

Senatorial District 16 (currently held by Sen. Patrick Browne)

 

 

 


Source: Berkshire mont

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