The New Hampshire supreme court has redrawn the state?s 24 senate districts?..The precedent setting action breaks more than a year of partisan gridlock..... The court also ordered that all Senate candidate file to run by July 5th?. Both democrats and republicans say the will mount their election efforts confident their party got the better end of the deal.
The high court says it?s redistricting plan imposes less change on existing state senate districts than any scheme proposed by lawmakers?..The court also says it?s plan reconciles what some still say are conflicting constitutional requirements: the state dictate that local political boundaries be respected?..and the federal principle of one person one vote?.The court?s ruling was unanimous, And after checking out the maps??late yesterday afternoon lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also seemed to agree they liked what they saw.
'We think it favors republicans??'
Senate majority leader Gary Francouer:
'When you?ve got a state like NH??which has favored republicans for many years to try and gerrymander the voting to make it a balance between democrats and republicans you just can?t do it?..And I think the court looked at it the same way we did.'
'There are more opportunities for democrats to compete and run than any run than plans offered by the republicans or even any of the compromise plans we offered.'
Democratic Senator Clifton Below:
'Bev Hollingworth?s old district actually becomes more democratic?..Senator O?Hearn and Senator Flanders become part of districts that actually become more democratic, so they become more vulnerable.'
But the plan, which shifts 233,000 residents --about 20 percent of the state?s population into new districts -- does make some major changes?..Senate President Arthur Klemm, for instance moves from district 22 to district 19???Things are far more drastic for Klemm?s fellow Republican Carl Johnson, of Meredith, who has represented the voters of district three for four terms. Johnson must now seek reelection in district two. And while Johnson believes he can win the seat left vacant by the retirement of GOP colleague Ned Gordon, he admits swaying voters in several dozen new towns will also pose new challenges.
'The only two that I current serve is Meredith and center harbor so I will have 28 new towns and I think I?ll have to educate the people in that district of my voting record and I?m ready to go.'
Some democrats also face some big changes??five term incumbent Debora Pignatelli?s, used to represent Nashua out of district 13. Under the court plan, Pignatelli?s shifts to district 12, which under the court plan, will extend 25 miles westward to include the towns of Hollis , Brookline, Mason, and New Ipswich. Manchester Senator Lou D?Allesandro admits such changes may not be ideal, but says lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have to face the facts.
'We tried to come to a compromise as legislators, we could not do it. The court did it and we have to live with it. We have to get out there and tell people what we are who we are and get out there and do it.'
The same may soon also go for the house?..where the redistricting impasse has yet to be bridged?..House leadership says it will offer a last ditch plan on Thursday. House speaker pro tem Robert Clegg of Hudson, says the plan will have bipartisan sponsors??and says he hopes the precedent of the courts? senate plan convinces house democratic leadership to sign on.
'They didn?t break up any towns any cities no ward lines?.they left everything in tact?.And with that in mind I think if democrats take a good look at this plan and the one that will be offered on Thursday??I think democrats should take another look?.'
If the house fails to reach agreement on their district map, the Supreme Court has said it will issue a house plan by the middle of next month.
