Legislative committee to study reapportionment

PROVIDENCE – The joint legislative committee studying reapportionment of political districts was scheduled to hold its first meeting on Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. in Room 313 of the Statehouse.
The Special Commission on Reapportionment’s opening session will be an overview on the reapportionment of Rhode Island voting districts. A presentation was to be made by Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services Inc., a political consulting firm located in Virginia that has been hired to assist with the project. Reed Witherby, representing the law firm of Smith and Dugan, was also to offer a presentation on legal issues associated with redistricting. Also slated to address the commission were Michael Narducci, deputy director of elections for the secretary of state’s office.
The commission is charged with making recommendations to carry out the constitutionally required redistricting of the House, Senate and congressional districts. The 18-member commission will use the results of the 2010 federal census to draw district lines to reflect population shifts in the state.
The commission must make recommendations to the General Assembly by Jan. 15, so that the elections later in the year reflect the new district boundaries.
Chairing the commission are Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey, D-Warwick, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, and Rep. Stephen R. Ucci, D-Johnston, House deputy majority leader and vice chair of the house committee on oversight.
In addition to the legislators, six public members will serve on the commission. Named by House Speaker Gordon D. Fox are: Felix Appolonia of West Warwick; Ray Rickman of Providence and Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan of Providence. Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed’s public member appointees are: Francis J. Flanagan of Middletown; Matthew F. Gunnip of Pawtucket and Arthur V. Strother of Providence. &#8226