Three Lawmakers Lose Wheaton in Redistricting

The partisan wrangling in Springfield to redistrict legislative and congressional boundaries keeps Wheaton in two House and two Senate districts, and puts the city in one congressional district. Also, three current lawmakers will no longer represent Wheaton.

The maps for new legislative and congressional districts, approved by the Illinois General Assembly over Memorial Day weekend, are on the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn awaiting his signature or veto. New lines are drawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. The political party in the majority gets to draw the new political boundaries and often draws district lines that protect the incumbent majority.

Republican lawmakers have criticized the Democratic majority in Springfield regarding the latest redistricting legislation.

According to the new maps, Wheaton will continue to be split between two House districts. One representative remains Rep. Sandra Pihos (R-42nd) of Glen Ellyn. However,  Rep. Mike Fortner (R-95th) of West Chicago will be replaced by Rep. Michael Connelly (R-48th) of Naperville.

In addition to the two House seats, Wheaton will also be served by two Senate districts – the 21st and 24th Senate Districts. Rep. Ron Sandack, a Downers Grove Republican currently represents the 21st District, but was drawn into a district that includes his Republican colleague Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno. The 24th District is represented by Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican.

The city will be served in Congress by U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6th) of Wheaton. Roskam has served much of Wheaton since he was sent to Congress. A portion of Wheaton was represented by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14th), but the new map draws him out of Wheaton.

Pihos and Connelly said they do not approve of the manner in which legislative Democrats drew the maps, but will continue to serve their districts to the best of their abilities. Each said they understand the political implications of the mapping process, but believe the maps should represent the voters rather than serve to protect legislators.

“The map is unfair to the public,” Pihos said. “The process was not a fair process to the voters.”

Both Connelly and Pihos touted the “fair maps” drawn by Republican legislators. Both veteran legislators said the maps were contiguous, did not dilute minority voting strength and maintained the integrity of municipal and county lines wherever possible. That map was ignored by the Democratic majority, as is the custom for the party in power.

, immediate past-president of the League of Women Voters of Wheaton, said she liked the Republican map proposal. She said the way it was drawn used the same criteria as the proposed Fair Map Amendment, which the league supported. The amendment never made its way to the ballot though due to the lack of required signatures.

Connelly endorsed the idea of fair maps. He said the way the GOP utilized the criteria proposed by the Fair Map Amendment folks is the right way to draw a map.

“Voters believe that’s the way to draw a map in the 21st Century and I hopes that is the focus on maps as the state moves forward,” Connelly said.

Like the two legislators, Wilhelm also did not like the manner the maps were passed. She said the process should have been more transparent and the voters should have had opportunities to review the maps prior to a vote.

Pihos agreed. She said there should have been a more transparent process surrounding the maps and that public comment was needed.

“The public should have been more involved. The districts being drawn should be drawn with them in mind, not the politicians,” Pihos said.

The Illinois Republican Congressional Caucus castigated the new map, saying the it “carves up towns and communities with little regard to the values and beliefs of the people who live there.”

Some lawsuits are in the works challenging the maps.