Redistricting Proposals Could Create Big Change for NK State Senator

Hearings and planning is well underway to redistrict and reapportion Rhode Island. Done every 10 years following the census to reflect shifts in population, this round of changes could pose a big change for one local state senator.

Two proposals would radically alter District 35, currently represented by North Kingstown resident and first-term state senator Dawson Hodgson. In one proposal, called scenario "B," Hodgson would continue to represent East Greenwich and North Kingstown, but would add parts of Narragansett, South Kingstown and Block Island. Hodgson represents half of North Kingstown and most of East Greenwich in the current district formation. In the three remaining scenarios, however, Hodgson would no longer represent East Greenwich.

"I’m being radically redistricted, I think it’s fair to say," said Hodgson at Tuesday night's Reapportionment Commission Hearing at Warwick City Hall.

The other proposals for his district – two proposals have him in District 35 and two have him in District 36 – comprise other variations and include one case part of Exeter and in another Jamestown and parts of Portsmouth and Middletown.

"Politics are only speculation," he continued. "I’m pretty sure if the Republicans had 30 votes, my district wouldn’t look like that.

"I have to take the commission process on its face and trust they are laying these districts out to reflect the people who live in them and not the politicians or political careers," said Hodgson.

He was not daunted by the prospect of re-election.

"The policies that I’ve advocated for in my 11 months as a state senator have statewide appeal," Hodgson said. "So whatever part of Rhode Island the Democrat majority says I live in, I believe the record I’ve built for myself makes me a strong candidate. It’s just going to be a lot of work."

Reapportionment hearings continue over the next two weeks, culminating in a vote by the commission on Dec. 19 in Providence. Once approved by the commission, legislation establishing the new lines will be presented to the General Assembly in January for final adoption so that the new lines are ready in time for the November 2012 election. For more information about the redistricting process, check out the Commission's website.

All the hearings and meetings will be shown on Capitol TV, which can be seen on Channel 15 for Cox Communications and Full Channel subscribers and on Channel 34 for Verizon customers. Hearings at the State House will be televised live, while those scheduled outside the State House will be recorded and aired the following day.