Bethel Park , one PA House District
My name is Mary Ann Raymer. I live at 5062 Orchard Avenue Bethel Park Pa. I am in the 40th PA State House District and the 37th PA Senatorial District. I am in the 17th Congressional District, which was before 2018, the 18th Congressional District. I have lived in these legislative districts for42 years. I have been a supporter of Fair Districts for the past 4 years. I am also a member of a social justice organization, Catholics for Common Good. An organization committed to voter fairness. Bethel Park is divided into 2 Pennsylvania State House Districts. It is composed of the 39th and 40th districts. The 39th PA State House District covers 3 wards in Bethel Park (Allegheny County) and then extends into Washington County. The 40th PA House District covers 6 wards in Bethel Park, 2 municipalities in Allegheny County (Bethel Park and Upper St Clair) and a portion of Peters Township in Washington County. Because Bethel Park is comprised of 2 State House Districts, the Bethel Park School District needs to partner with 2 different state legislators to communicate the school district’s needs. It is also very confusing to voters who are not sure what wards and what State House Districts they reside in. Why wouldn’t all of Bethel Park be one legislative district and if additional voters were needed to reach the 64,000 expected population, then reach into the contiguous, smaller districts of Castle Shannon, Baldwin, and Whitehall? If voter diversity is being considered, there is a large immigrant population in Castle Shannon and Baldwin which would provide a balance to the majority white Bethel Park population. Voters in Allegheny County and Washington County have different voting regulations. The information about mail-in ballot applications and dates, mail-in voter box locations, and polling places information are different in Allegheny and Washington Counties. Therefore, it is better to create a State House District with all of Bethel Park and contiguous districts in Allegheny County. I ask that all of the Bethel Park municipality be in one legislative district when designing the Pennsylvania map and that the remaining voters be from Castle Shannon, Baldwin and Whitehall, neighboring municipalities in Allegheny County. Thank you for your consideration.