December 1, 2011

Welcome to Congressional District 2, Burrillville. Other Proposed Changes Up in the Air

Carroll Andrew Morse

Common Cause has posted three proposed maps of potential new Congressional Districts released by the Rhode Island Redistricting Commission. With that caveat that it is difficult to tell whether the new district lines and certain city/town lines are exactly contiguous on certain portions of the maps...

  • There is a proposal to move most-or-all of Providence into District 1, while moving all of Newport County (and Burrillville) to District 2 (Plan A),
  • There is a proposal to move most-or-all of Providence and Johnston to District 1, while moving Burrillville, North Smithfield, Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln and Jamestown to District 2 (Plan B), and
  • There is a minimum-disruption plan that changes the line that splits Providence, and moves Burrillville to the 2nd District (Plan C).
One reminder: You don't have to live in a Congressional District, to run for the Congressional Seat in that district. Normally, not living in a district is an insurmountable PR barrier for a candidate running for Congress to overcome; however, that factor might be obviated, when some high-profile Gerrymandering after candidates have announced is involved.

UPDATE:

Not so fast, even for Burrillville. Ian Donnis of WRNI (88.1 FM) is reporting that the office of Rhode Island Second District Congressman James Langevin, working from data that says balancing Rhode Island's two Congressional Districts should only require moving 7,000 voters, has proposed a plan that moves district lines only in Providence.

One might surmise that Congressman Langevin isn't so keen on having all of Providence moved to District 1, to give a boost to Congressman David Cicilline's election hopes.

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"There is a proposal to move most-or-all of Providence and Johnston to District 1, while moving Burrillville, North Smithfield, Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln and Jamestown to District 2 (Plan B)"

As a Cumberland resident, let me say "YES PLEASE!"

This one would be interesting as we already hear that CD2 is more conservative than CD1. Now if you add some of these towns, it gets more conservative and could make things at least a hair more difficult for Rep. Langevin if he were to get the right opponent.

Posted by: Patrick at December 1, 2011 11:51 AM

Congressman Langevin will never get "the right opponent" because his opponent will be a Republican.

Posted by: OldTimeLefty at December 2, 2011 12:12 AM

Democrats should think long-term about the redistricting and not just about saving RI-1 in 2012.

7,000 votes may not be enough to save the incumbent this year - especially if continual ads showing the former Mayor's claim about leaving the city in great financial shape hit as Providence residents start feeling the pain from the mess (and that's not counting on any legs from PRO-CAP or other "issues").

Langevin wins with only 60% even though outspending his opponent by 10 - 1; someone like a Catherine Taylor could easily challenge him, especially if the Republicans can find someone in the Senate race that might draw out voters.

Obama is going to win RI no matter what and the degree that union members will come out faithfully like in 2010 is in doubt (seems the congressional delegations were pretty silent on pension reform) unless it's to punish incumbents.

Posted by: COL at December 2, 2011 1:03 PM

"we already hear that CD2 is more conservative than CD1"

This shouldn't be about tipping the scales one way or another for 'your team'. It's about how we want to be represented. I'm of the opinion that the only way the nation's most urban state can survive is by focusing on the cities. That's where the problems are now and where the growth can be later (hint: you actually don't want much growth in the suburbs, lest they become traffic-snarled stripmalls).

Part of me wants the urban core split between two candidates, but another part wants the urban areas to 'have their own guy' while someone else focuses on suburban/coastal/environmental issues.

Posted by: mangeek at December 2, 2011 5:01 PM

I think the headline should be "welcome back, Burrillville", for if memory serves, Burrillville was moved into the First CD in the 1992 redistricting. (And, FWIW, North Providence became part of the First CD in 1972.)

Posted by: Bob at December 5, 2011 7:48 AM

I think the headline should be "welcome back, Burrillville", for if memory serves, Burrillville was moved into the First CD in the 1992 redistricting. (And, FWIW, North Providence became part of the First CD in 1972.)

Posted by: Bob at December 5, 2011 7:48 AM

Only in RI would someone that should be in jail like Cicilline be so focused on a backroom way to stay on office such as this.

This state is doomed...

Posted by: Bill at December 14, 2011 9:16 AM
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