State Legislative Redistricting
The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, our Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee has serious concerns with the proposed PA State House Districts from the Commission. Our concerns are related to the proposed districts compared to the key criteria to be met in the redistricting process: 1) Shared Community Interest 2) Community Bond 3) Community Like Mindedness 4) Geographic/Political Landscapes. The proposed changes would significantly impact the current integrity of the 123rd District, currently consisting of seven communities known as “Upper Schuylkill”. The direct impact of the proposed redistricting is separating several “commonly connected” communities--- Shenandoah, McAdoo, Ringtown, Mahanoy City, and several surrounding townships, all now proposed in the 116th Legislative District. Separating the forementioned communities from other northern Upper Schuylkill areas such as Ashland, Frackville, Gilberton, Girardville, and Gordon creates a significant divide within school districts, including significantly in the North Schuylkill School District, which is Upper Schuylkill’s strongest tax base, and a further divide within the Mahanoy Area School District, splitting the district into three. The proposed changes to the 123rd District appear to favor the creation of a stronger, predominantly Hispanic 116th district. Although we fully support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, consistent with our adopted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement of our Chamber, we do not support a map solely formulated by ethnicity. The proposed changes do not make sense when comparing socioeconomics and demographics among the targeted population and overall will further divide already underserved communities. A trend of tying rural districts into suburbs of major metropolitan areas can also be seen in the 125th District, which was formerly predominantly Schuylkill County, and is now reassigning Northern Dauphin into the Harrisburg area – which is also proposed to be divided. The separation of community, again, does not meet the key criteria of shared community interest, bond, and like-mindedness. Furthermore, the proposed reassignment of the 125th further hinders the electoral process by forcing a newly elected House member in his first term to be pitted against another incumbent candidate of longer tenure from the same political party in a primary election to be held. Clearly this is seen as disrespecting the voice of the people who elected this first term House member in Schuylkill County. The 124th Legislative District is the best “status quo” situation of the three former Schuylkill County House Districts, remaining in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, but now with a greater percentage of constituents 53%/47% in favor of Berks County. However, it is noted that the majority of constituency is in Berks vs. Schuylkill County, therefore the representation for Schuylkill constituents has been lessened. Also, to be mentioned is the 107th House Legislative District, now combining part of Northumberland County and parts of Schuylkill County including the townships of Barry, Eldred, Foster, Frailey, Hegins, Hubley, Pine Grove, Porter, Reilly, Tremont, Upper Mahantongo and Washington and the Boroughs of Pine Grove, Tower City and Tremont. These new projections would challenge the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce to advocate to four (4) State House Representative seats---the 107th; 116th; 123rd; and 124th; while losing the 125th. The advocacy for the business and nonprofit members of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce will be challenged---in some communities necessitating 2-3 legislators simulatenously. In review, the proposed changes seem to fail all established criteria including shared community interest; community bond; community like-mindedness including schools working in collaboration and partnership and similar industry and economic partnerships and will clearly have an adverse effect on geographic and political landscape and voting districts in Schuylkill County. The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, our Board of Directors and our Government Affairs Committee asks you to seriously reconsider the redistricting process and proposed legislative House districts related to Schuylkill County including the 123rd, 124th, and 125th Legislative Districts, all with a current, strong working relationship under the 29th Senatorial District. We respectfully ask your review of our concerns related to the Commission’s criteria for the redistricting and in consideration of the electorate of Schuylkill County.