Small Town News

Region will likely see new Senate seat

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Democrats release map of new districts

Sussex County will have one more senatorial district if a proposal from the Senate majority caucus is approved. Senate Democrats released a map May 19, displaying their version of the way district

lines should be redrawn for the 2012 election.

Under the proposal, District 6 would move from northern New Castle County to Sussex. The district would contain Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Hen-lopen Acres, Lewes and Milton. None of Sussex County's four senators live in the

area that would become the new district.

Sen. George Bunting, D-Befhany Beach, who currently represents Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Henlopen Acres and Long Neck, said he would be disappointed to lose representation of the coastline. "It's pretty tough," said Bunting, who said he has family and personal friends in Re-hoboth Beach. He also owns a branch of State Farm Insurance in Rehoboth Beach.

Bunting said the new district was

carved to give a Democrat a good opportunity to be elected. "Definitely politics played a big part in this," Bunting said. "Sussex is going Republican; the powers that be know that."

Bunting said he is hoping the new district will bring new blood into the Senate. He said he looks forward to seeing candidates who will focus on representing the people of the new district, instead of some incumbents who focus on serving their own interests.

"Redistricting is just not a pretty thing, and it's very, very political," Bunting said. "I didn't see any real gerrymandering." The public still has the opportunity to alter the proposal by giving feedback to legislators, Bunting said.

According to Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, Senate Republicans will not release a proposal for new districts. Under the majority's proposal, Simpson, R-Milford, would lose

Lewes to the relocated District 6. "I hated to lose Lewes," Simpson said.

Simpson's District 18 would make a drastic shift to center around Milford. Simpson's district would also move west to include Houston and Harrington. Simpson said the shift would make his district more homogenous. "It's more a rural area, more of a conservative area," he said.

Simpson said he believes the new district was designed for a Democrat and noted Russ Mc-Cabe, a resident of Milton, would live in the new district. "Whether that was intentional or not, only they can say," Simpson

said.

McCabe, a Democrat, ran for the House District 36 seat in November's election. He lost to Rep. Harvey Kenton; R-Milford. McCabe could not be reached at press time.

House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, would reside in the new district. Schwartzkopf participated heavily in the remapping of House districts. He said he did not see the Senate map until it was released to the press. "Never say never, but at this point, I'm not looking at it," said Schwartzkopf, when asked if he would consider running for the new Senate seat.

If District 6 were relocated to Sussex, its senator, Minority Whip Liane Sorenson, R-Hockessin, and Sen. David Soko-la, D-Newark, would both be in the same district and would likely faceoff in the 2012 election.

Democrats also modified Republican Sen. Joe Booth's District 19, which includes Georgetown and Bridgeville; it would become a district with a Hispanic population of more than 15 percent.

Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca, D-Varlano, said in a press release the majority caucus has met all legal requirements concerning minority districts in the proposal. "I've

talked to our attorney, Frank Murphy, who's been in charge of the redistricting process in the Senate. He tells me that the maps are ready to go, and we look forward to completing the redistricting process," DeLuca said.

DeLuca said the Senate is on track to have the state reapportioned by its June 30 deadline. To view the Senate majority caucus's proposal, visit legis.delaware.gov.

Public comments and input may be emailed to Senate.Redis-tricting@state.de.us or mailed to Delaware State Senate Redistricting, Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901. incumbents who focus on serving their own interests.

"Redistricting is just not a pretty thing, and it's very, very political," Bunting said. "I didn't see any real gerrymandering." The public still has the opportunity to alter the proposal by giving feedback to legislators, Bunting said.

According to Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, Senate Republicans will not release a proposal for new districts. Under the majority's proposal, Simpson, R-Milford, would lose

Lewes to the relocated District 6. "I hated to lose Lewes," Simpson said.

Simpson's District 18 would make a drastic shift to center around Milford. Simpson's district would also move west to include Houston and Harrington. Simpson said the shift would make his district more homogenous. "It's more a rural area, more of a conservative area," he said.

Simpson said he believes the new district was designed for a Democrat and noted Russ Mc-Cabe, a resident of Milton, would live in the new district. "Whether that was intentional or not, only they can say," Simpson

said.

McCabe, a Democrat, ran for the House District 36 seat in November's election. He lost to Rep. Harvey Kenton; R-Milford. McCabe could not be reached at press time.

House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, would reside in the new district. Schwartzkopf participated heavily in the remapping of House districts. He said he did not see the Senate map until it was released to the press. "Never say never, but at this point, I'm not looking at it," said Schwartzkopf, when asked if he would consider running for the new Senate seat.

If District 6 were relocated to Sussex, its senator, Minority Whip Liane Sorenson, R-Hockessin, and Sen. David Soko-la, D-Newark, would both be in the same district and would likely faceoff in the 2012 election.

Democrats also modified Republican Sen. Joe Booth's District 19, which includes Georgetown and Bridgeville; it would become a district with a Hispanic population of more than 15 percent.

Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca, D-Varlano, said in a press release the majority caucus has met all legal requirements concerning minority districts in the proposal. "I've

talked to our attorney, Frank Murphy, who's been in charge of the redistricting process in the Senate. He tells me that the maps are ready to go, and we look forward to completing the redistricting process," DeLuca said.

DeLuca said the Senate is on track to have the state reapportioned by its June 30 deadline. To view the Senate majority caucus's proposal, visit legis.delaware.gov.

Public comments and input may be emailed to Senate.Redis-tricting@state.de.us or mailed to Delaware State Senate Redistricting, Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901.





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