East Lawrence's place in county politics will be up for grabs this week as part of the county commission's once-a-decade redistricting process, but key neighborhood leaders said they still aren't sure what to think of the possible changes.
Commissioners at their Wednesday evening meeting are scheduled to have their first, and perhaps last, public hearing on redrawing the boundary lines for the three districts.
Plan 1
The commission members have been working on the redistricting for more than two months but now have narrowed their choices to two maps. The major difference between the two is the placement of East Lawrence the area east of Massachusetts Street, south of the Kansas River and roughly north of 15th Street.
In Map 1, as commissioners have labeled it, East Lawrence would remain in the 1st District, currently represented by Democrat Charles Jones. In Map 2, the neighborhood would be moved into the 2nd District, which is currently represented by Republican Bob Johnson.
So, which scenario is better for East Lawrence?
"Right now, I'm solidly sitting on the fence," said Ed Tato, president of the East Lawrence Neighborhood Assn.
Urban vs. rural
Kirsten Roussel, president of the Brook Creek Neighborhood Assn., said her group also is taking a "wait-and-see approach," but may be leaning more toward remaining in the 1st District because it is a much more urban district.
Currently, the 1st District is entirely within the Lawrence city limits, while the 2nd District includes Baldwin, Eudora and a large amount of rural areas in eastern Douglas County.
"I think there is some fear that if we're moved, we may be much more likely to end up with a commissioner from one of those rural areas who might not know much about our neighborhood or city issues," Roussel said.
Jones, who is seeking re-election and will have to campaign in the new district later this year, said he'd just as soon leave East Lawrence in the 1st District because the largely older, lower-income, Democratic-leaning area helps add balance to the district.
"I think having the type of diversity that exists in East Lawrence adds texture to the 1st District," Jones said. "And I do think putting them in the 2nd District increases the likelihood that they'll be represented by someone much more in tune with rural rather than city needs."
Plan 2
East vs. west
But the decision isn't a slam-dunk for East Lawrence. Roussel said some association members believe there could be political positives in making the switch.
"There is a concern that if we stay a part of the city we would end up with someone representing more of the business community and some of the wealthier ends of the community," Roussel said. "If we were part of the smaller communities, we might do better than a person thinks.
"I think with the type of population we would add to the district, we could be a pretty significant force in elections in the 2nd District too."
But the price of that change likely would be a 1st District more dominated by West Lawrence politics, said Michael Almon, a member of the Brook Creek Neighborhood Assn.
"One thing that does concern me is that the political clout of the east side isn't anywhere near the political clout of the west side of town," Almon said. "If that eastern element is removed from the 1st District, that will just give the west side that much more relative strength.
"It's not that East Lawrence and West Lawrence disagree on every issue, but when those issues come up that balance needs to be there."
An area of West Lawrence that is west of Monterey Way, east of Wakarusa Drive, south of Sixth Street and north of 15th Street. The area is currently in the 1st District but would move to Jere McElhaney's 3rd District under both plans.
An area south of the Kansas University campus that includes most of the school's residence halls and family housing would move from the 3rd District to the 1st District.
Parts of eastern Wakarusa Township, roughly everything east of East 1400 Road, would move out of the 3rd District and into the 2nd District.
Decision nears
The time is coming to speak now or forever hold your peace. Or at least hold it for the next 10 years. Both Jones and Johnson said they anticipate the commission will make a decision Wednesday immediately after the public hearing.
Johnson, though, said he's not sure how important most people view the issue, even though it is one of the longer-lasting decisions the commission will make.
"You hate to say people don't care about it, but I really believe most people don't see the county commission as a partisan body, and frankly I think that is good," Johnson said.
Johnson said he isn't concerned about not being able to adequately represent East Lawrence because his district already contains parts of the city in addition to rural areas.
"I think those areas of the city get just as good of representation as the rural areas do," Johnson said. "But it really doesn't make that much difference to me which way we go on this decision. I'm probably going to listen to my fellow commissioners and if they are leaning one way, I'll be inclined to vote with them."
Back in the neighborhood, Almon admits there's not much talk of redistricting either, but he said that doesn't mean it's not important.
"Who sets the agenda for the next 10 years is real important," Almon said. "When an issue comes up two years down the road and people realize they don't have a voice in it because of who they're represented by, then they realize that the important decision was made back when redistricting was done."
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