The Legislative Reapportionment Commission on Friday passed another plan for state Senate and House of Representatives districts, though the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will have to give the final OK.
The drama started in late 2011, when the commission released preliminary and final plans.
In late January of this year, the Supreme Court rejected the final plan on constitutional grounds, ruling that it unfairly split cities, townships and boroughs.
The commission unveiled new maps in April and then considered suggestions from the public. Changes were made to that map and voted on last week.
The vote was 4–1 in favor of the plan. Legal challenges must be made within 30 days.
Those voting in favor were chairman Stephen J. McEwen Jr., former president judge of Superior Court; Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, a Republican; House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, a Republican; and House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, a Democrat.
Only Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, a Democrat, voted against it.
Whenever the Supreme Court approves the maps, they will go into effect for the 2014 elections.
Under last week’s plan, the Northeast will be represented in the Senate by the 2nd and 5th districts.
The 3rd Senatorial District, represented by Democrat Shirley Kitchen, loses all of its divisions in the Northeast. The current district includes Summerdale, Lawndale, Fox Chase and Bustleton.
The 5th Senatorial District, represented by Democrat Mike Stack, will generally include the riverfront, the Far Northeast, Castor Gardens, Rhawnhurst, Bustleton and Somerton.
The 2nd Senatorial District, represented by Democrat Tina Tartaglione, will largely consist of Kensington, Juniata, Frankford, Northwood, Summerdale, Oxford Circle, Wissinoming, Lawndale, Burholme, West Mayfair, Fox Chase and Holmesburg.
In the House of Representatives, there will be nine districts based in part or whole in the Northeast.
The 152nd district, represented by Republican Tom Murt, will include seven divisions in the Bustleton portion of the 63rd Ward.
The 154th district, represented by retiring Democrat Larry Curry, will no longer have one division in Burholme.
The 169th district, represented by Democrat Ed Neilson, will be moved to a fast-growing area of York County.
The 170th district, represented by Democrat Brendan Boyle, will consist of the Far Northeast neighborhoods in the 58th and 66th wards.
The 172nd district, represented by Democrat Kevin Boyle, will move out to Rockledge and also include new areas of Castor Gardens, Burholme, Rhawnhurst and Bustleton.
The 173rd district, represented by Democrat Mike McGeehan and based in Tacony and Holmesburg, moves north to include 15 divisions in the Far Northeast-based 66th Ward.
The 174th district, represented by Democrat John Sabatina Jr., loses the entire Castor Gardens-based 54th Ward and gains areas of Pennypack Woods, Academy Gardens, Torresdale and the Far Northeast.
Under the latest map, Rep. Neilson’s home would move from the 169th to the 174th district, meaning he would have to challenge Sabatina in a primary to keep his seat, if he is re-elected in November.
If Republican Dave Kralle ousts Neilson in the fall, Kralle would have to face McGeehan in two years.
The 177th district, represented by Republican John Taylor, moves north. It loses Juniata Park and gains GOP-friendly territory in West Mayfair, Holmesburg and Lexington Park.
The 179th district will change hands from Tony Payton to fellow Democrat James “Scoot” Clay. The district will move north to include Summerdale and more of Wissinoming and Oxford Circle.
The 202nd district, represented since 1974 by Democrat Mark Cohen, loses its areas of Olney, Logan and West Oak Lane. It is now more compact, consisting largely of areas west of Roosevelt Boulevard and south of Cottman Avenue, but also taking in a dozen divisions in the 62nd Ward in Wissinoming, Lower Mayfair and Frankford.
The 203rd district, represented by Democrat Dwight Evans, will include areas of Crescentville, Lawndale and Oxford Circle. ••
