By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
JEFFERSON CITY — The new set of state legislative maps released this week have left politicians abuzz throughout the ShowMe State, and may paint a new political picture in many parts of Missouri.
The Missouri Appellate Apportionment Commission has filed new state Senate and House of Representatives redistricting plans and maps with the Missouri Secretary of State.
The Supreme Court of Missouri as prescribed by the state constitution appointed the Commission when bipartisan citizen apportionment commissions failed to reach agreement on new district lines in September. The state constitution gave the six appellate court judges 90 days to complete the task.
The new district boundaries could change the complexion in Southeast Missouri, where the 25th Senatorial District’s western border is the county line between Stoddard and Butler counties. The 25th district will include Stoddard, Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi, Scott, Bollinger and Wayne counties.
The 33rd District will now include Butler, Ripley, Carter, Oregon, Shannon, Dent, Texas, Howell and Ozark.
Dexter’s Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, who currently represents the 25th District, cannot seek re-election due to term limits. Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R-Dexter, and Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, are now two of the district's announced candidates. Both cannot seek re-election to the House due to term limits.
Joining them is Rep. Ellen Brandom, R-Sikeston, who had planned to become a candidate for in the 27th Senatorial District, Brandom’s part of Scott County is now in the 25th District, and she has announced that she will run for that seat.
The new 33rd District will include Poplar Bluff and West Plains.
Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff announced earlier this year he would be a candidate for the State Senate in the old 25th district. He is said to be a candidate with Rep. Ward Franz from Howell County, State Rep. Don Wells of Texas County and Jason Smith of Dent County.
The 151st District returns to being a Stoddard County district with an added slice of western Scott County. No candidate from either party has announced their intention to seek the 151st district spot in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Republicans currently hold at 26-8 majority over Democrats in the State Senate. House Republicans hold at 106-57 majority over Democrats.
Six judges sat on the panel responsible for the new House and Senate maps. Serving on the commission were three judges appointed by Democrat governors – Lisa White Hardwich from the Western District, Robert G. Dowd Jr. from the Eastern District and Nancy Steffen Rahmeyer from the Southern District. The other three members were appointed by a Republican governor – Don E. Burrell Jr., from the Southern District, Roy L. Richter from the Eastern District and James E. Welsh from the Western District.
All six judges on the panel signed off on the two legislative district maps.
The districts take effect for primary and general elections next year. Candidate filing for election to the new districts begins February 28, 2012.
Redistricting occurs every ten years following the census. Based on the 2010 Census, Missouri’s resident population increased by 7% to 5,988,927. This increase, combined with regional population shifts, required significant changes in the state’s 34 current Senate districts and 163 current House districts to meet the constitutional requirement that district be as equal in population as practicable.
This is only the second time in state history that a judicial panel has redistricted both chambers of the General Assembly.
