Letter to the Editor: Redistricting Meeting

Dear Weston Residents:

I would like to inform Weston residents of a public hearing being held by The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting on Saturday, June 18, at 10 a.m. in the Forum Room of the McCarthy Center at Framingham State University.  The hearing is one of several being conducted across the commonwealth to receive public input on the redrawing of Congressional, state legislative and Governor’s Council districts required as a result of the 2010 US Census. While much attention has been paid to the fact that the Massachusetts Congressional delegation must be reduced from 10 to nine, and testimony on this subject is welcome, residents should also be aware that the district lines for State Representative, State Senate and Governor’s Council seats are also being redrawn to ensure that all such districts are of equal size. Because the population of the Thirteenth Middlesex District, currently represented by Thomas Conroy of Wayland, is less than the required population for state representative districts, there will be some change to some Metrowest district lines. How residents of the area believe local district lines should be drawn is important to the Special Committee’s deliberations.

Saturday’s hearing is the only one being held in the Metrowest area so I encourage any Weston resident with an interest in this topic to testify.  Any individual who is unable to attend in person, may submit written testimony to the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting through my office at Room 473 G, State House, Boston, MA 02133. For additional information on the redistricting process for the Commonwealth, please visit the Special Joint Committee’s website at: www.malegislature.gov/District.

As a member of Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, I look forward to hearing from the residents of Weston on this important topic.

Alice Hanlon Peisch
State Representative
14th Norfolk District