Legislative Redistricting
Date: November 19, 2021 To: The Legislative Reappointment Commission From: Paul Keating, Municipal Administrator Subject: Legislative Redistricting The Municipality of Kingston is opposed to any redistricting of the 120th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Any redistricting of the 120th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will carve out and disrupt a cohesive unit of communities working together to better-serve the taxpayers of Luzerne County’s Westside. The communities that comprise the 120th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are actively engaged in a multitude of formal agreements for shared government services. The specific communities are Kingston, Forty Fort, Edwardsville, Wyoming, West Wyoming, Swoyersville, Courtdale, Pringle, Exeter, Exeter Township, West Pittston, Jackson Township, and Kingston Township. These communities must remain in the same district for the continued success of Luzerne County’s Westside. Active agreements for essential government services include but are not limited to a functionally consolidated fire end EMS department between the Municipality of Kingston and Forty Fort Borough, a joint policing agreement between the Municipality of Kingston and Borough of Pringle, and joint EMS agreements between the Kingston Community Ambulance Association and the Boroughs of Pringle and Swoyersville. Additionally, all of the communities that comprise the 120th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are actively engaged in a very successful Council of Government (Westside Council of Governments) and Composting Commission (Westside Composting Commission). Our current Representative, Aaron Kaufer, has been invaluable in helping all of these various entities achieve their current levels of success. Because of the cohesiveness, cooperation, and representation in this district, our taxpayers receive the very best services at the most cost-effective rates possible. It makes no business sense whatsoever to divide our communities with new representation simply for political purposes. As Kingston’s Municipal Administrator for 24 years, I am confident that the Legislative Reappointment Commission will put the people’s interest of the 120th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before politics. I can also be reached at (570) 714-7950 to discuss the contents of my letter. I thank you for your attention to this matter and concern for Luzerne County’s Westside.