Boback
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Friday was a landmark day for Pennsylvania politics, including a major announcement for one of the region’s longtime state representatives as the larger picture shifted.
First — and unexpectedly — we learned that state Rep. Mike Carroll won’t seek reelection in the 118th Legislative District after nearly 16 years in office. His decision marks the third departure of a sitting legislator this cycle, after Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Twp., opted not to run and Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Twp., was elected a county judge.
Then, as expected, the five-member commission redrawing the boundaries of Pennsylvania’s state legislative districts voted Friday to approve new maps for the next decade, with the results made public during the afternoon.
As the Associated Press pointed out, the new maps put a focus on the state’s fast-growing Latino population, which could change the face of the predominantly white House and Senate. A lawsuit challenging it, however, is likely.
To create nine districts where minorities have significant populations, House mapmakers split the cities of Allentown, Reading and Harrisburg, redrew a Hazleton-area district and carved new districts into Lancaster, Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
In the Senate, mapmakers redrew a Senate district in Philadelphia currently held by Democrat Christine Tartaglione and moved the Wilkes-Barre-based district into part of Allentown and its suburbs.
That protected Allentown Republican Pat Browne by putting him into a Republican-leaning district, but put Democrat-turned-independent John Yudichak, I-Swoyersville, in a district with Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Twp., the AP noted. It also united Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in one district.
The new districts can be seen in the accompanying maps, and in the descriptions at the end of this story.
Reaction was swift, and divided.
Yudichak ‘disappointed’
State Sen. John Yudichak Friday said he is “profoundly disappointed” in how Luzerne County was “unfairly treated in what sadly remains a very partisan redistricting process.”
“I know and respect each member of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, but I am profoundly disappointed,” said Yudichak.
Yudichak said community leaders from Luzerne County registered serious concerns with the Commission’s intentions to fragment local municipalities and school districts among four different and diverse senate districts.
“Local leaders warned the Commission that splitting the Wyoming Valley and separating Luzerne County’s four cities could negatively impact the substantial regional progress our region has made on economic development and public safety projects over the last decade,” Yudichak said.
Recently, the Governor’s Action Team ranked northeastern Pennsylvania the number one job-creating region in the Commonwealth.
“In the Wyoming area, Luzerne County’s first regional police force is taking shape,” Yudichak said. “All along the I-81 corridor, from Hazleton to Nanticoke and from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston, local leaders are working together as one region to create more prosperous and safer communities.”
Yudichak said without an election or a single vote cast, Luzerne County’s leadership role in regional cooperation efforts will dramatically be reshaped by the “misguided work” of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission that has produced a final reapportionment plan” designed to divide the citizens of Luzerne County.”
Yudichak added, “I stand in strong solidarity with the community leaders of Luzerne County who feel disenfranchised by the redistricting process and who feel the actions of the Commission today are dismissive of the good people of Luzerne County and the tremendous contributions our communities have made to Pennsylvania.”
Yudichak, 51, has served in the state Legislature for 24 years — 12 years in the House and 12 years in the Senate when his current term ends.
Yudichak said he will leave the discussion about his personal political future to a more appropriate time and place.
“If a legal challenge is filed against the new maps, I will respect the legal process and reserve any further political comments until the maps are finalized,” he said.
Baker, Boback comment
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, said she has very much enjoyed the opportunity and responsibility of serving the people and communities of the 20th Senatorial District, as it has been constituted for the past decade.
“I am fully committed to providing the same level of accessible and energetic representation over the remaining months of this legislative session,” Baker said. Unfortunately, a new census invariably means the lines shift for every district, in order to comply with constitutional standards. No legislator gets to draw a preferred district, despite some claims to the contrary. I am disappointed I will no longer have the opportunity to serve all of Wayne County or the Mountain Top region of Luzerne County. However, I am grateful for the many friendships and longstanding relationships that will continue to influence my service now and in the future.”
Baker said every legislator must abide by the map negotiated and approved by the five-member commission.
“As a resident of Luzerne County and someone who has worked closely with Sen. John Yudichak, I am familiar with the new communities added to the 20th District. I look forward to establishing working relationships with the taxpayers, officials, and community leaders in these new areas.”
Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, said since the final version of the map was announced, she has inundated with phone calls.
“Unlike the preliminary map which allowed for public comment until Jan. 18, this map was finalized and closed within the past few days without allowing any input from me or my constituents,” Boback said. “The map lacks transparency. I have informed the callers that according to the Pennsylvania Constitution, anyone who is ‘aggrieved’ by what passed today can file direct appeals to the state Supreme Court.”
County Dem Chair offers comment
Kathy Bozinski, Chair of the Luzerne County Democratic Party, said there were no huge surprises based on what she had heard, but she said some districts could favor one party over the other.
“The 116th District’s redistribution clearly puts the spotlight on our growing, diverse population and gives them a stronger voice in electing the leaders who will represent them,” Bozinski said. “The 117th is sprawling and may prove to be a challenge for candidates. The 118th takes a strong turn into Lackawanna County, and while that could favor Dems, it can also mean leadership from Lackawanna at some point. The 119th, precisely what I had heard it was going to be, but folds places like Ashley and Fairview Township into the district which may give it more balance. The 120th, no real surprise. The 121st stays primarily within the Wilkes-Barre Area School District footprint, and I see that as a positive.”
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The House districts
116th District: LUZERNE and SCHUYLKILL Counties; Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Hazleton and the TOWNSHIP of Hazle and the BOROUGH of West Hazleton; and part of SCHUYLKILL County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of East Union, Kline, Mahanoy, North Union and Union and the BOROUGHS of Mahanoy City, McAdoo, Ringtown and Shenandoah.
Total population: 63,945
117th District: LUZERNE County; part of LUZERNE County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Black Creek, Butler, Conyngham, Dennison, Dorrance, Fairmount, Foster, Hollenback, Hunlock, Huntington, Lake, Lehman, Nescopeck, Ross, Salem, Slocum, Sugarloaf and Union and the BOROUGHS of Conyngham, Dallas, Freeland, Harveys Lake, Jeddo, Nescopeck, New Columbus, Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, Shickshinny and White Haven.
Total population: 61,755
118th District: LACKAWANNA and LUZERNE Counties; part of LACKAWANNA County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Glenburn, La Plume, Newton, Ransom and West Abington and the BOROUGHS of Dalton, Moosic, Old Forge and Taylor and Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Pittston and the TOWNSHIPS of Jenkins and Pittston and the BOROUGHS of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown, Laflin, West Pittston and Yatesville.
Total population: 61,770
119th District: LUZERNE County, part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Nanticoke and the TOWNSHIPS of Fairview, Hanover, Newport, Plymouth, Rice and Wright and the BOROUGHS of Ashley, Edwardsville, Larksville, Plymouth, Sugar Notch and Warrior Run.
Total population: 61,334
120th District: LUZERNE County, part of LUZERNE County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Dallas, Exeter, Franklin, Jackson and Kingston and the BOROUGHS of Courtdale, Exeter, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne, Pringle, Swoyersville, West Wyoming and Wyoming.
Total population: 61,645
121st District: LUZERNE County, part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Wilkes-Barre and the TOWNSHIPS of Bear Creek, Buck,Plains and Wilkes-Barre and the BOROUGHS of Bear Creek Village and Laurel Run.
Total population: 61,466
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The Senate Districts
20th District: Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Nanticoke and the TOWNSHIPS of Dallas, Exeter, Fairmount, Franklin, Hanover, Hunlock, Jackson, Kingston, Lake, Lehman, Newport, Plymouth, Ross and Union and the BOROUGHS of Ashley, Courtdale, Dallas, Edwardsville, Exeter, Forty Fort, Harveys Lake, Kingston, Larksville, Luzerne, Plymouth, Pringle, Sugar Notch, Swoyersville, Warrior Run and West Wyoming; All of PIKE County; All of SUSQUEHANNA County; part of WAYNE County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Berlin, Buckingham, Clinton, Damascus, Dyberry, Lebanon, Manchester, Mount Pleasant, Oregon, Palmyra, Paupack, Preston and Scott and the BOROUGHS of Bethany, Hawley and Starrucca and All of WYOMING County.
Total population: 269,942
22nd District: LACKAWANNA and LUZERNE Counties. part of LACKAWANNA County consisting of the CITY of Scranton and the TOWNSHIPS of Benton, Glenburn, Greenfield, La Plume, Newton, North Abington, Ransom, Scott, South Abington, Waverly and West Abington and the BOROUGHS of Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Dalton, Dickson City, Dunmore, Moosic, Old Forge, Taylor and Throop and Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITIES of Pittston and Wilkes-Barre and the TOWNSHIPS of Jenkins, Pittston, Plains and Wilkes-Barre and the BOROUGHS of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown, Laflin, Laurel Run, West Pittston, Wyoming and Yatesville.
Total population: 251,084
27th District: All of COLUMBIA County; Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Black Creek, Butler, Conyngham, Dorrance, Fairview, Hollenback, Huntington, Nescopeck, Rice, Salem, Slocum, Sugarloaf and Wright and the BOROUGHS of Conyngham, Nescopeck, New Columbus, Nuangola and Shickshinny; All of MONTOUR County; All of NORTHUMBERLAND County and All of SNYDER County.
Total population: 260,244
29th District: All of CARBON County; Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITY of Hazleton and the TOWNSHIPS of Bear Creek, Buck, Dennison, Foster and Hazle and the BOROUGHS of Bear Creek Village, Freeland, Jeddo, Penn Lake Park, West Hazleton and White Haven and All of SCHUYLKILL County.
Total population: 264,845
NOTE: The 14th Senatorial District would no longer include any municipalities in Luzerne County.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.