This week the House will take action on a redistricting proposal. Every 10 years, lawmakers are required to adjust House district boundaries to ensure each district contains an equally balanced population.
Changes to local political boundaries have been expected for some time since the 2010 census data demonstrated that House District 31 was the 10th largest district in the state, contained more unincorporated residents than any other district, and consisted primarily of the state’s fourth fastest growing county. The district must be reduced in size by approximately 7,000 residents.
The redistricting plan will transfer all parts of House District 31 that are located north of the Cimarron River and one Guthrie precinct to House District 38. This includes Cimarron City, Crescent, Lovell, Marshall, Mulhall and Orlando. Guthrie precinct 305, the polling location at Guthrie Christian Church at 17th and Logan, will also become a part of House District 38.
House District 38 is a rural district consisting of a several counties and a significant number of small towns. It would become one of the largest districts in terms of area; it would stretch north from Warner Street in Guthrie until reaching the Kansas state line.
House District 31 will also lose the land between Indian Meridian and Pottawattomie Road, as well as some territory west of Indian Meridian Road in the Langston Lake area. This transfer will include the town of Meridian. House District 32 will pick up this area and the town of Langston and will now consist principally of Lincoln and eastern Logan counties.
House District 33 will lose Langston to House District 32 but will continue to include Coyle and several miles of rural Logan County land located north of County Road 75.
Four Representatives will now represent Logan County. In addition to myself, those Representatives are Rep. Danny Morgan in House District 32, Rep. Lee Denney in House District 33 and Rep. Dale Dewitt in House District 38.
The Oklahoma County portion of House District 31 will also experience changes. Several miles of northern Oklahoma County will be exchanged between House District 31 and House District 39. House District 39, represented by Rep. Marian Cooksey, will take four square miles between Kelly and Bryant from Waterloo to Coffee Creek. House District 31 will pick up four square miles between Western and May from Waterloo to Coffee Creek and 12 square miles between May and Rockwell from Waterloo to Covell.
These transfers include the east side of Oak Tree, Belmont Farms, Twin Bridges and Caliburn neighborhoods that will become a part of House District 39, and a significant portion of the Deer Creek area that will be transferred into House District 31.
If the plan is approved, it is certainly going to be sad to lose all of those in the transferred areas whom I have enjoyed getting to know and have been honored to represent. I will still be available to assist these residents with their issues of concern and will assist in the transition process to the new State Representatives.
I do look forward to serving on behalf of those from Deer Creek and will enjoy getting to know and represent them. This area is rapidly growing and in conjunction with the other rapidly growing areas of House District 3,1 there is every reason to expect that it will once again become one of the largest districts in the state.
The maps of these changes are online and you may review them at the http://www.HD31.org/105 web address.
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