Few Attend Yorkville Hearing on Congressional and State Redistricting

Yorkville Alderman Rose Spears told state senators that a public hearing on redistricting Tuesday morning would have been more productive if they had maps on hand.

Specifically, she would have appreciated seeing details on how the state and congressional districts are presently shaped – and what proposals are on the table for reshaping the districts in light of the most recent census data.

“Without that information, I'm thinking, why am I sitting here,” Spears said.

She was among three people who spoke at a hearing the Senate Redistricting Committee hosted at the .

Redistricting is a process that state legislators undergo every 10 years to even up the districts in light of population changes. Ultimately, the local U.S. representative, state senator and state representative might change as boundaries shift.

State Sen. Michael Noland, vice-chairman of the committee, indicated that state officials only had the new census data for about six weeks, which is one reason a proposed map was not available Tuesday.

The final product (which the state legislature, dominated by Democrats, will vote on in the coming months) could produce very different legislative districts throughout the Fox Valley.

The state gained more than 410,000 new residents since 2000, while losing one seat in Congress. But while Chicago’s population decreased, the suburbs saw a large uptick. Kane, Kendall and Will numbered among the five fastest-growing counties in the state.

The Aurora-Naperville area, which includes smaller suburbs like Montgomery, saw nearly 50,000 new residents since 2000. While the black and Asian populations grew somewhat, the Hispanic population in this area increased by more than 32 percent.

The House Redistricting Committee hosted a similar hearing last week in Aurora. At that hearing, speakers expressed concerns about dividing the area Hispanic population and the village of Montgomery.

Other speakers also urged lawmakers to allow the public to review the proposed map (once it is created) and then host additional hearings for public comment. That sentiment was echoed Tuesday by Yorkville resident and WSPY radio reporter Ryan Morton.

“Just so you're aware, you’re not the first to request that,” Noland said.

State Sen. Mattie Hunter said senators' schedules were quite busy throughout May, though.

“Your point is well-taken,” Hunter said. “We hear you loud and clear.”

Those who were unable to attend Tuesday morning can learn more about the redistricting process online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com, or by calling Senate Democrats at 217-782-1999 or House Democrats at 217-558-3036.

Montgomery Patch Editor Andre Salles contributed to this report.