No to LRC Proposed Changes to Senate District 34

The proposed LRC Senate Map is much worse than the current Senate map for the larger State College/Bellefonte region (District 34). While not perfect now, at least this region is fully contained within our current district. The proposed LRC Senate Map splits the larger State College/Bellefonte region right down the middle and in doing so separates the municipalities which work jointly to provide governance for this region. This is problematic. This proposed map also divides a greater number of school districts (including its largest - State College) between Senate districts than does current District 34. The proposed LRC Senate Map will also further bury the voice of non-Republicans in this district. The larger State College area is blue. The current district leans red. Despite the fact that this area is growing and trying to be heard more clearly in Harrisburg, both of the districts into which we have been divided (Districts 25, 35) are solidly red. If adopted, this map will actually provide for diminished representation in Harrisburg for this region - not more. A close look at how this split divides State College makes it hard to see this as anything other than a gerrymander intended to isolate the voice of a solidly blue community. The People’s Senate Map (District 4) is the best option I have seen for our region. It keeps the larger State College/Bellefonte region together and maintains its school districts intact without any further division. What makes this a significant improvement over current District 34, however, is that it stretches east to include other college communities: Lock Haven (with Lock Haven University), Lewisburg (with Bucknell University), and Selinsgrove (with Susquehanna University). These communities of interest align more closely with our own (Penn State - University Park). This would enable several communities in the region to join their voices on issues critical to them…and, hopefully, have a greater impact in Harrisburg. Finally, this option would still lean red but it would also likely be more competitive, a heathy thing for this region’s voters and for Pennsylvania as well.