NEWS

Few changes as Council approves new Ward maps

By ALEX MALM
Posted 4/6/22

Redistricting in Warwick is completed after the City Council unanimously approved new ward maps on Monday night.

The drawing of new ward lines occurred after the State Senate and House of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
NEWS

Few changes as Council approves new Ward maps

Posted

Redistricting in Warwick is completed after the City Council unanimously approved new ward maps on Monday night.

The drawing of new ward lines occurred after the State Senate and House of Representative districts were redrawn as part of the every 10 year redistricting process. The General Assembly has approved the new state districts.

Kimball Brace from Election Data Services previously explained that the Supreme Court ruled the population of all districts need to be within plus or minus of five percent of each other. Election Data Services is the consulting company hired by the city to help with the redistricting process.

To comply, Wards 1 and 3 needed to gain population while Wards 8 and 9 needed to lose population.

Ryan Martin from Election Data Services told the Council Monday the population loss south of the airport due to airport expansion made Ward 3 under populated.

 Originally Ward 1 had 6.1 percent less than the other wards, and Ward 3 had 5.5 percent less than the others. Ward 8 started off with 7.5 percent more than other wards, and Ward 9 started off with 7.3 percent more.

Under the proposal the new north boundary between Ward 1 and 2 is Atlantic Avenue and Post Road.

The other boundary line will remain Warwick Ave. The east side of Warwick Ave. at Governor Francis Shopping Center is all Ward 1 while the other side is Ward 2.

In order for Ward 3 to gain population the biggest change is taking areas from Ward 8.

“We brought all of Wethersfield Commons into the ward,” said Ryan Martin from Election Data Services.

Centerville Road now divides Ward 8 and 9 whereas the boundary had been Toll Gate Road.

“Overall, in the grand scheme of things there are very few changes. We did not have to move too many (people),” said Council President Steve McAllister.

Ward 8 Councilman Anthony Sinapi understood that the changes were important, especially so Wethersfield Commons would have equal representation and wouldn’t be split in an “odd way.”

“I’m not thrilled I’m losing spots. I understand it’s actually the right thing to do,” said Sinapi.

In total Martin said that less than 8,000 people will  be moved as part of the redistricting.

The new maps means that Ward 1 will have the least amount of residents with 8,816, and Ward 9 will have the most with 9,541. The target population for all the wards is 9,208 people.

With the new Ward maps approved the new street files must be submitted to the state by April 15.  It will include the new voting precincts. Once complete,  Kerry Nardolillo , Warwick Director of Elections said that postcards will be sent out informing residents of the new districts. She expects the postcards to be sent out in May or June before the official candidate declaration period.

Nardolillo said that no incumbents were redistricted out of their respective Wards under the changes.

The change in representation goes into effect after the swearing in of the new Council next January meaning that all current Council members will represent their current Wards until then.

redistricting, ward maps

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here