How Redistricting Would Affect the Phoenixville Area

At a recent gathering, Mayor Leo Scoda once joked that state Sen. Andy Dinniman is always popping up around the Phoenixville area. 

"I swear, if there's a birthday party with more than 10 people at it, Andy will be there," Scoda said. 

If a proposed redistricting plan goes through, Phoenixville will have new representation in the state senate, as Dinniman's line will move south. According to the state's guide on redistricting, the process occurs every 10 years following the Census. 

The Allentown Morning Call put together a comprehensive interactive map that shows the current and proposed electoral districts of state representatives and senators. In addition to switching from a Democratic district to a Republican one under state Sen. John Rafferty, there would also be some changes in the state House seats around the Phoenixville area. 

Senate

Senate District 19—Dinniman's district—would see the line move south, and the borough along with Upper Providence, East Pikeland and Schuylkill townships will become part of Senate District 44, represented by Rafferty, who is expected to announce a 2012 run for state attorney general. Charlestown Township will still be represented by Dinniman. 

Dinniman recently received an award for his efforts to save the Medal of Honor Grove, and that would no longer be in his district if the redistricting plan goes through as currently proposed.

House

The Phoenixville area will see some shake-ups in House districts if the redistricting plan goes thorugh as it's currently planned.

State Rep. Warren Kampf's 157th district will cross the Schuylkill River into Mont Clare and Oaks as well as other parts of Upper Providence Township. Currently, Oaks and Mont Clare are represented by Republican Mike Vereb. While some of Kampf's area bleeds into Montgomery County, he doesn't currently represent Upper Providence.

Rep. Curt Schroeder's district will now extend into East Pikeland Township, an area formerly covered by state Rep. Duane Milne. All representatives in the Phoenixville area are currently Republicans and that wouldn't change under the proposed redistricting plan. 

Feedback Deadline

The deadline to give public input on the proposed redistricting is Dec. 1. The Times Leader newspaper summed up the rest of the process:

Though the testimony portion of the process is complete, the public’s chance to express concerns over the planned redistricting maps is not. The public comment period will continue up until Dec. 1, at which point the commission has 30 days to approve the maps and make them official.

The state Supreme Court could still get involved if challenges to the maps are made on legal grounds.

You can watch hearings on the proposals and find out more information on the state's redistricting website. Learn more about the public commenting process on a website sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Common Cause Pennsylvania.