Two communities in western Schuylkill County aren’t happy with the proposed redistricting plan for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Last week, Porter Township supervisors and Tower City borough council passed similar resolutions voicing their official displeasure with the House redistricting proposal recently passed by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
There’s currently a Public Comment period open on the proposed new House district map.
Under this plan, Schuylkill County would be split into 4 districts. It’s currently part of 3 districts. Two of those 3 districts are represented by someone from Schuylkill County, Tim Twardzik in the 123rd and Jerry Knowles in the 124th.
Joe Kerwin Jr., from Dauphin County, represents the 125th. And that’s where Porter Township and Tower City are currently located.
Tower City, Porter Township Reject PA House Redistricting Proposal
Under the proposed new district map, those two municipalities along with all of western Schuylkill County would be in the 107th district, which extends into Northumberland and Columbia counties.
The 125th district would be condensed to include mostly central Schuylkill County, including Pottsville.
Eastern Schuylkill County would still be in the 124th district, which extends into northern Berks County. And the 123rd, as we know it, would be gone. Extreme northern Schuylkill County would be put into the 116th district, which includes Luzerne County.
Image (edited): via @SenArgall-Twitter
Under the proposed new district map, western Schuylkill County would no longer be tied in with northern Dauphin County.
“We strongly believe that it is in the best interests of our community to continue to be in a district that is composed of communities in western Schuylkill County and northern Dauphin County,” each resolution reads. “We have significant economic and social partnerships that encompass these two areas, despite the county line that separates us.
“We strongly encourage the Reapportionment Commission to reconsider the lines they have proposed and keep the Williams Valley areas in the 125th legislative district.”
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