Congressional redistricting OK’d; Nelson stays in 2nd, Marion, others are out

Gov. Steve Beshear signed into law HB 302, redrawing the lines for Kentucky's six congressional districts. Nelson County remains in the 2nd Congressional District, but other nearby counties were moved to other districts. Click map to enlarge.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Saturday, Feb 11, 2012, 12:05 p.m. – Nelson County will stay in Kentucky’s 2^nd Congressional District after Kentucky lawmakers Friday approved a congressional redistricting plan that was quickly signed by Gov. Steve Beshear.

The redistricting plan approved Friday makes significant changes to the boundaries of the 2^nd Congressional District.

While Nelson County remains in the district, several nearby counties do not: Marion, Taylor, Ohio and a portion of southeastern Washington County are moved to West Kentucky’s 1^st Congressional District. Shelby County and more than half of Spencer County is moved to the 4^th Congressional District. The parts of Jefferson County that were in the 2^nd District were moved to the 3^rd, and the far eastern end of Jefferson County is now in the 4^th District.

The final congressional district map. Click to enlarge.

The plan adds several counties to the 2^nd District, including Butler in the west, and Boyle, Mercer, Garrard and a portion of western Jessamine in central Kentucky.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the plan makes Kentucky 6^th Congressional District more Democratic, an effort to help Democrat Rep. Ben Chandler’s reelection bid this year.

The newspaper reported Republican state Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr calling the bill the “Ben Chandler Lifetime Employment Act.”

“I’m signing this bill today to provide certainty to this process so candidates can file for office,” Beshear said through his press office. “Redistricting is always a partisan process, and no redistricting plan will please everybody.”

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