Another victim of redistricting releases statement

Wednesday, 25 January 2012 19:00

Diaries - Curtis Morrison - BlackWednesday

My friend Shawn Reilly, who was hoping to run in the upcoming primary to represent his 19th District found out last Friday that the 19th District moved, without him. His statement, with very helpful maps of where Louisville's senate districts are now located (provided by Reilly), are below:

It is with great regret that I must inform you that I will not be a candidate for the State Senate in the 19th District.
Based on the redistricting of the State Senate map, I now live in the 35th district that is for now represented by two incumbent Democrats; Sen. Perry Clark and Sen. Denise Harper-Angel. These two will have to face a primary against each other. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for the 35th district either. Early in November I committed to each of them that if I were placed in their districts I would not challenge them in a primary and I will not break that commitment.
This year's bloody redistricting has been one of the worst on record, but it has become a unifying force. Republicans and Democrats alike are now expressing outrage at the arrogantly political decisions and the secretive way they were reached. The worst example of this is how Republicans in the Senate disenfranchised more than 100,000 Lexington residents by moving Sen. Kathy Stein's district to northeastern Kentucky.

Democrats and Republicans are saying there has to be a better way, and they are right. In the coming days I will calling for changes to the way redistricting is conducted before the 2020 census. I will also be announcing my support for a bill filed by Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, that would create a seven-member Committee on Redistricting appointed by members of the Supreme Court to draw legislative and congressional boundaries after the 2020 census

Thank you for your support of these past few months.

--
Shawn Reilly
Louisville, KY

Editor's note: The House Bill filed by Rep. Wayne, was co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Farmer, a Republican no doubt, and is HB304. More info on that bill at: Kentucky.com
Click on maps to make them full-size: