Redistricting Plan Would Change Salisbury's State Representation

Salisbury Township will continue to be divided among three state House seats under a proposed statewide redistricting plan, while the state Senate seat would change.

The township is currently represented by the 131^st state House seat (representing township Wards 2,3 and 4), held by Republican Justin Simmons; the 133^rd (Ward 1), represented by Democrat Joseph Brennan, and the 134^th (Ward 5), represented by Republican Doug Reichley.

The same three seats would continue to represent Salisbury under the redistricting plan, but the township wards they represent would change. The 131^st would represent Wards 3 and 4-1; the 133^rd would represent Wards 1 and 2, and the 134^th would represent Wards 4-2 and 5.

Salisbury is now part of the sprawling 24^th state Senate district represented by Pennsburg-based Bob Mensch, a Republican. The redistricting plan would put the township in the 18^thdistrict, represented by Democrat Lisa Boscola of Bethlehem.

One of the plan’s most drastic measures is to strip Mensch of all Lehigh Valley municipalities except Williams Township in Northampton County.

Wednesday, Nov. 30 is the deadline for comments about the state's plan to redraw legislative districts.

• Any resident who wants to register a complaint can do so through the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s website at www.redistricting.state.pa.us.
• The website also allows users to access detailed maps of the redistricting proposal and watch videos of the various meetings and hearings the Commission has held.