Small Changes Proposed for Wakefield in State Redistricting Plan

The state of Massachusetts released its preliminary state legislative redistricting plans on Oct. 18, and although some communities are affected greatly by the proposed changes, Wakefield would not be affected very much.

State House of Representatives
The proposed change in district lines would call for Rep. Paul Brodeur (D-Melrose) to drop represententing Wakefield's Precinct 3. Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) would then pick up Precinct 3, essentially switching that one precinct between the two legislators.

Currently, Rep. Brodeur represents Wakefield's precincts 3, 4, 5 and 6, in the 32nd Middlesex District, and Rep. Wong represents 1, 2 and 7 in the 9th Essex District. Under the propsoal, Rep. Brodeur would represent Precincts 4, 5 and 6 in the 32nd Middlesex and Rep. Wong would serve Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 7 in the 9th Essex. 

State Senate
Wakefield's representation would stay the same, with Sen. Katherine Clark's (D-Melrose) territory containing all of Wakefield, but some changes would be made to the other communities she represents. 

Clark's current Middlesex and Essex District consists of Melrose Wards 1-5 and all of Malden, Wakefield, Reading, Stoneham and Lynnfield.

The proposal from the state Legislature would move Melrose Wards 6 and 7 and one half of Winchester - currently represented by Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville - into Clark's district, which would be renamed "Fifth Middlesex."

Not happy? Speak up
The state legislature will be seeking comments on the proposed redistricting plans for the next two weeks.

"Over the next fourteen days we are asking for your comments on the draft maps before the Committee makes a recommendation to the General Court," wrote the committee's chairmen Sen. Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and Rep. Michael Moran, D-Brighton in a letter posted on the redistricting committee's website. "The public comment period is the first time this has been done in Massachusetts and is an important component in what many have described as the most open, inclusive, and transparent redistricting process in the history of the state."

To contact the redistricting committee, fill out this online form.