CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

MAINTAINING A NORTH SHORE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

North Shore Alliance Congressional Working Group

The Situation

Based on MA population increases that lagged compared to other parts of the

country, Massachusetts will lose a Congressional District for the 2012

Congressional election cycle.


The Numbers

Growth in various regions of the

United States - 2000 to 2010

South +14.3%

West +13.8%

Nation + 9.75%

Massachusetts + 3.1%


• 1958 Massachusetts had 14 Congressional districts.

• 1960 reduced to 12 Congressional Districts • 1980 reduced to 11 Congressional Districts• 1990 reduced to 10 Congressional Districts

• 2010 United States population around 311 million, thus, the average 2012 U.S. Congressional District will have approximately 715,000 (311 million people, divided by 435 congressional districts).

• The 2010 MA population is 6,547,000, which with 10 districts would create district sizes of 654,700.

• With a national average of 715,000 people/congressional district, Massachusetts loses a seat.


With nine Massachusetts Congressional Districts, the new population for each will be

approximately 727,000 residents.

The 6th Congressional District today contains 650,161 residents.

6th CD population needs to increase by 76,839.


Advocacy Goal

To maintain the Sixth Congressional District as a true

“North Shore” district as the Commonwealth reduces from 10

to 9 Congressional seats.


Sixth Congressional District will need to add approximately 76,000 residents,

but remember, ALL nine new Massachusetts districts will need to

add approximately 72,000 – 80,000 new residents.


A view of 6th CD “Border Community” Populations

Haverhill 61,275 (5th CD)

Methuen 44,055 (5th CD)

Lawrence 70,014 (5th CD)

Andover 33,418 (5th CD)

Tewksbury 29,543 (5th CD)

Billerica 41,844 (5th CD)

Carlisle 4,874 (7th CD)

Revere 60,204 (7th CD)

Malden 55,597 (7th CD)

Melrose 26,708 (7th CD)

Stoneham 21,471 (7th CD)

Woburn 36,871 (7th CD)

Lexington 30,272 (7th CD)

Chelsea 41,577 (8th CD)


What is the process for redistricting and how can we

impact it?


The redistricting process is undertaken by the MA Legislature through the Joint

House/Senate Redistricting Committee.

The MA Joint Redistricting Committee is comprised of 28 members, (7 Senators

and 21 Representatives).


MA Senate Members:

Chair: Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst)Senate VC Sonia Chang Diaz (D-Boston)

Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester)

Barry Finegold (D Andover)

Karen Spilka (D-Ashland)

James Timilty (D-Walpole)

Daniel Wolf (D-Harwich)

MA House Members:

Chair: Michael Moran (D-Brighton)House Vice Chair: Cheryl Coakley-

Rivera

Bradley Jones Byron Rushing

John Keenan Elizabeth Poirier

Bradford Hill Vincent Pedon

Stephen Kulik Demetrius Atslais

Garrett Bradley Patricia Haddad

Antonio Cabral Anne Gobi

Alice Hanlon Peisch Linda Dorcena Forry

Chris Speranzo Sean Garballey

Marcos Devers Joseph Wagner

Paul Frost


What is the North Shore’s argument for maintaining our

Congressional District and how & where do we make it?


THE WHERE – THE FIRST STEP

June 20th Massachusetts Joint Redistricting

Committee North Shore Public Hearing

6:00 p.m., Lynn City Hall

Lynn City Council Chambers


THE HOWNorth Shore Alliance Congressional Working Group

Using North Shore Leaders to Create a North Shore Message

• Use Business Clusters to outline business interests• Use Regional and local Chambers/Partners to outline

business/tourism interests• Use North Shore non-profits

– Hospitals & Health Care– Workforce Training– Higher Education– Tourism Sector– Social Service– Transportation


Communicating Our Message

• June 20th Meeting• Local Media• Regional Media• North Shore Mayors & Town Managers• Our 23-member legislative delegation • Local City Councilors and Selectmen• Letters and mailings from Chambers and Business Groups


Some of the reasons we can prevail• We have a coherent region that makes “regional sense”• We have definable business clusters that rely on each

other for their success.• We have worked hard creating a region that works

collaboratively on issues of importance• We have a very strong historical argument. • 6th Congressional District has been the better part of

Essex County since reconstruction


Historical View

Massachusetts Congressional Districts

Congressional Districts 2002













What are we doing now?

– Created “Cluster” Working Groups to create our testimony for June 20 and beyond

– Communicating with Public (Chambers, Media, Business Clusters)

– Creating the argument for why various business and institutional clusters want to maintain our district

– Researching various redistricting legal arguments

– Searching for potential partners


Important Dates

May 20 – Date for Cluster groups to have talking points completed

May 27 – A large group meeting to review talking points and meeting strategy

June 20 – North Shore Public Hearing in Lynn

November 6, 2012 – Election Day!


Thank [email protected]

CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

Documents