Redistricting: Local Reps. Benson, Doepke Gone?

Some local residents may lose their current representative in the Statehouse, if a Republican redistricting plan, passed by the House, goes forward in the Senate.

Last week, House Republicans released and then narrowly passed a plan that would redraw the state's legislative boundaries before the 2012 election—a plan that puts Reps. John Benson (DFL-43B) and Connie Doepke (R-33B) into one legislative district. That means that the two area lawmakers would be forced to retire or to run head-to-head against one another.

Neither incumbent would comment on the proposed redistricting plan. However, late last week Rep. Doepke voted to pass the Republican-written measure. Rep. Benson did not cast a vote. Ultimately, the legislation passed along party lines. 

The proposed measure would locate both legislators within the 46B legislative district, which would encompass most of the cities of Minnetonka and Wayzata. Currently, Rep. Benson  lives on Huntington Drive in Minnetonka, and Rep. Doepke lives on Hollander Road in Wayzata.

Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years following the completion of the Federal Census. Boundaries are drawn to place roughly the same number of people in each of the 134 House districts and 67 Senate districts.

The proposal would force House members representing 20 districts to run against collegues to maintain their current seats in ten newly-drawn districts. Five of these match-ups would be between Democratic representatives, four would be between a Democrat and a Republican and one would be between two Republicans.

The Senate plan, released Monday, is largely the same as the House bill, HF1425, which passed last week along a party line vote. Any differences between the House and Senate plans must be reconciled before final passage by both bodies and before being sent the Governor.  If Gov. Mark Dayton vetoes the redistricting legislation, the courts will redraw the lines after February 21, 2012.

Curious what district you'll be in? Click here.