Throughout the last few months Rep. Joe McNamara has lobbied to keep Pawtuxet Village, which is in Warwick and Cranston, in the same House district as the Special Legislative Commission on Reappointment holds hearings in regards to drawing new lines for all 75 house districts and 38 senate districts.

In fact, 10 years ago he advocated for the same thing when the Warwick and Cranston sections of the Village were in two different districts.

With the Commission releasing two draft proposals recently McNamara is happy the Commission listened. “I believed that they got it right, the fact that Pawtuxet Village in its entirety is a community of interest and deserves at least one elected official who can represent constituents of the Village who are residents of both Warwick and Cranston,” McNamara said recently.

McNamara is expected to face off against Stuart Wilson in a rematch from last year’s House District 19 Democratic Primary.

Redistricting of the state’s House and Senate districts is done every 10 years to reflect changes in population shifts after the Census is completed. Once those districts are determined, which is expected in February, attention turns to the municipalities that in turn need to adjust ward lines.

So far McNamara is pleased.

For the past 10 years he has represented both sides of the bridge for Pawtuxet Village. “I’ve seen the difference it makes in having at least one elected official who represents both sides of the bridge in Pawtuxet Village because it does present some unique issues as a community and the citizens that live in the Village deserve to have an advocate who can represent the needs of the Village to both Warwick and Cranston”.

The goal of the redistricting is for each Senate district to hit a target population of 28,878 plus or minus 5 percent and for the house districts to hit a population of 14,632 people.

Under Plan A House District 19 would have a total population of 15,123 people and Plan B would give the district a total population of 14,835.

To help meet the Senate population requirement, the maps show District 30 comprised of all of Ward 9.

Currently Potowomut is part of Senate District 30 while Senate District 31 takes in the rest of Ward 9.

Incumbent Jeanine Calkin is expected to face off against Mark McKenney in what would be a rematch of last year’s Democratic Primary. In 2018, Calkin who was the incumbent at the time was unseated by McKenney before beating him in 2020.

McKenney said that in his view making comments now about the two proposed district maps is a “bit premature.”

“District lines haven’t been decided, and there could be some further changes,” McKenney said.

“From my standpoint, Rhode Island is not where we would like it to be, in many areas, and that impacts our city,” he added. “So I plan to run again and do all that I can to assist the people of Warwick and of the state, overall.”

“But the make-up of District 30 isn’t a matter of great concern to me. I haven’t been involved in the process, and I don’t expect to be,” he went on to say.

“Whatever is determined to be appropriate by the Redistricting Commission and the legislature I’ll be fine.”

Calkin noted that aside from the addition of Ward 9 that some of the neighborhoods north of West Shore Road have been split into a different district and said that “It’s unfortunate the neighborhood around Vets is broken into two Senate districts in these maps.”

“While we wait to see what the final maps look like, I look forward to continuing to connect with our community and hear what issues are important to them,” said Calkin. “And to work to protect our environment, expand access to healthcare and ensure good quality education for all our students.”

Under plan A and B the total population of the District would be 29,900 people.

Meanwhile in Senate District 31 the proposed maps shows that a portion of Cranston would be added to the District if approved along with portions of Gaspee Point and Governor Francis Farms.

“Through my campaign, first year in office and the redistricting process I’ve learned so much about all the people and fantastic neighborhoods of District 31,” said Anderson in a statement. “I’ve met and worked on issues and concerns with people from everywhere in our district and I look forward to the chance to continue the work we have started together including with the people who will no longer be residents located here.”

“They are Rhode Islanders and my job is to work to improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders but with a focus on representing our district. WIth that said, the first draft of the map moving further into Cranston, brings the opportunity to meet many new people, learn what is important to them and opens up so many possibilities for collaborative work,” she added. “My only concern with the first draft of the map is that we keep all the residents of Pawtuxet Village in District 31 and not separate them.”

The total population under Plan A for the District would be 30,005 people, and Plan B would have a total population of 29,389 people.

A final recommendation by the Commission is expected to take place early in the New Year. From there both the Senate and House will take a vote on it.

The changes to the districts will be in effect for the 2022 elections. The current state reps and senators will remain in place until January, 2023 when new elected state legislators are sworn in.

Once the Senate and House districts are finalized Warwick and other cities and towns will use the district boundaries to draw the new city council ward maps.