GOP Redistricting Plan Has Little Impact on Berkley, Huntington Woods at State Level

A proposed redistricting plan Republicans released late last week is expected to have little effect on Berkley and Huntington Woods at the state level, although it will pit U.S. Reps. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) against each other in the August primary.

Districts for Berkley and Huntington Woods' state legislators, Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) and Sens. Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) and Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy), are proposed to stay the same.

Gregory, who represents the 14th District, which includes Huntington Woods, said the Republican Senate proposal removes Southfield Township, Beverly Hills, Franklin and Bingham Farms from his district but adds Madison Heights.

"Eighty percent of the district remains the same. So, for me, that proposal is not a problem at all," he said, adding that his district would gain population under the proposal.

Gregory said he expects the Democrats to release their own proposal this week.

"The Republicans have the votes, so their map will probably be approved," he said.

Also in the state Senate, Berkley is expected to remain in the 13th District, represented by Pappageorge. Because of term limits, this is the senator's final term. Calls to Pappageorge's office were not returned.

Cogen Lipton, who represents the 27th District, which includes Huntington Woods as well as Berkley, would gain all of Oak Park, the majority of which she already serves. She also would assume territory currently represented by state Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village).

Levin vs. Peters?

The biggest change could come in the August primary, pitting Levin, who represents District 12, and Peters, who represents District 9, against each other.

The Republican plan moves Levin into Peters' territory, making up all of District 9, which means they would have to campaign against each other in August. District 9 would include Royal Oak, Ferndale, Berkley, Huntington Woods and Bloomfield Township.

The two Democrats issued a joint statement Friday after the proposed maps were unveiled.

“Voters in Michigan have never before faced such a shamelessly partisan redrawing of congressional boundaries," the statement read. "Instead of drawing fair lines that follow community and county borders in a logical way, the Republican Legislature has drafted a map so skewed that it exploits every trick in the book to gerrymander districts in ways that benefit Republican incumbents."

Redistricting is a result of Michigan's population decline, as reported by the 2010 U.S. Census. The decline means that Michigan has to reduce House seats from 15 to 14.

Redistricting took place in Michigan 10 years ago as well when the 16th and 15th Districts were merged, forcing Reps. Lynn Rivers and John Dingell – two Democrats – to fight for the same seat.

"Redistricting in Michigan is a very political process," Lipton said. "We can stand to reason that the party in power will redraw them to benefit that political party."

Republicans have control of the House and Senate.

Quick hits

• For more on the reapportionment proposals, see House Bill 4780, which involves the congressional redistricting, and House Bill 4779, which involves the state House and Senate redistricting.
• The House Committee on Redistricting and Elections will take up the issue Tuesday.
• The state has until Nov. 1 to finalize the district maps.