Spilka Takes All Of Natick, Linsky Staying Put: Redistricting

NATICK, MA — Many Natick residents could soon get a new state Senator under a proposal unveiled this week by Senate Democrats that redraws districts across the state.

Under the proposal, Senate President Karen Spilka's district would move east to cover all of Natick, meaning state Sen. Becca Rausch's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district would no longer cover the east side of town.

Senate Democrats unveiled the proposal Tuesday following the release of the decennial U.S. Census in August. Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years to coincide with population shifts detected by the Census.

State House Democrats also released a new redistricting proposal this week, but state Rep. David Linsky will remain Natick's lone House representative. However, the proposal calls for his district to drop Sherborn and part of Millis, instead moving north into the southern part of Wayland.

"I am sad to report that I will no longer represent the wonderful towns of Sherborn and Millis," Linsky said in a Facebook post Tuesday. "It has been a wonderful honor to represent them and all of the wonderful friends I have made there. They are great towns with great people."

Right now, Rausch's district extends from Wayland south to North Attleborough. The new district would have her pick up Milford, Bellingham, Medfield and Franklin — Senate President Karen Spilka represents about half of Franklin currently.

With an eye on the one-year residency requirement to run for state representative, House and Senate leaders are aiming to wrap up the once-a-decade process of redrawing state legislative lines by early November.

The release of draft maps kicks off a public comment period that will last until 5 p.m. on Monday.

Material from State House News Service was used in this report