Public Interest Guide to Redistricting

House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran never seems happier, more at peace, than when he has a fight looming.

So he had a lot to be happy about yesterday, because the redistricting map he unleashed on the state's congressional delegation is sure to prompt weeks, or months, of warfare.

At least one feature of the newly drawn districts, though, gives Finneran a slice of moral high ground. Under the new map, Massachusetts could for the first time have a district in which a majority of residents are people of color. He is right when he says Massachusetts does not now have a district that a minority candidate can win, and right to try to do something about it.

''What the hell am I the speaker of the House for if I can't do something when I see an opportunity?'' he asked yesterday. ''What am I doing up here if this isn't a moment to be seized?''

This state's shabby record of minority empowerment is one of those things few people like to talk about, especially liberal Democrats. For all the lip service - in Finneran's phrase - paid to promoting black, Latino, and Asian candidates, the record reads like this: one black US senator (a Republican), zero congressmen, and zero statewide winners.

Don't try to tell me about the 8th, the district that now has the largest concentration of minority voters and is alleged to be winnable for a black or Latino candidate. From all available evidence, it's not.

Mel King was the city's first black mayoral finalist, in 1983. In 1986, running for an open seat in the 8th District, he got less than 10 percent of the vote. Charles Yancey has failed to approach double digits in two tries in the 8th. In fact, his 5 percent tally in 1998 exceeded expectations.

Even for a state that has historically lacked a huge minority population, the failure of the liberal establishment to deliver the inclusion it has preached is jarring.

Finneran insisted yesterday that the redistricting had been driven by three goals. One was the desire to create a minority district. The second was to unite Southeastern Massachusetts, where New Bedford and Fall River have been separated for decades. And the third was to protect incumbent congressmen.

Not surprisingly, the majority-minority district was not the aspect of the new map that captured the attention of State House insiders yesterday. Rather, the questions that resounded in the building were about Finneran's drastic remaking of the district represented by Martin T. Meehan of Lowell, and what prompted his apparent punishment.

But Meehan's fate - either he'll run for governor or he won't - is less important in the long run than finally getting a delegation that represents the rapidly changing makeup of the region.

Lawrence DiCara, the attorney and former city councilor advising the redistricting committee, made an important point when he noted that the portions of Boston and the surrounding areas in the new 8th have the fastest-growing minority populations in the state. While the new district would be 51.7 percent minority now, that population is projected to rise to 60 percent within seven or eight years.

Population numbers don't necessarily translate politically. This area will not see a black or Latino congresswoman until voter registration and turnout increase substantially. No act of the Legislature can force that. But opportunity matters, and this represents an opportunity.

It is just the beginning of the debate, of course. Meehan may not run for governor, which could change everything about redistricting, and the Senate will surely have its own ideas. But it's a start.

Finneran said yesterday a minority district would rank as a breakthrough, a ''legacy,'' if it happens, because its impact would be lasting, and because it would represent a triumph of action and achievement over rhetoric. That would be one development that's long overdue.

Adrian Walker can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

The Herald News
The race is on for new House seat
By Michael W. Freeman
July 12, 2001

Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. says he's out. So is Congressman Barney Frank, while state Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson are weighing their options.

With the announcement on Wednesday that the Legislature might create a new congressional district centered around Bristol County -- and without an incumbent -- speculation about who would run has come fast and furious.

Although there's been speculation in the past that Lambert might run for Congress one day, the mayor said he's happy where he is now.

"I'm very happy being mayor of Fall River," he said. "I think I've got a great job, and I'm grateful to have it. Right now, I think this is the place where I can have the greatest impact on my city."

Lambert said his top choice to take the new 5th District would be Frank, who has represented Fall River since 1982.

"I spoke to Barney this morning, and actually encouraged him to consider running out of this seat," Lambert said. "This is where his base has been for the last 20 years. He's been very good to this district. I would hope he would continue to represent this district and run it."

Frank, though, said he's not inclined to do that.

From 1982 until 1992, Fall River was Frank's territory in the 4th Congressional District. In 1992, the city was split between his district and the 3rd Congressional District, now represented by Democrat James P. McGovern.

But the new redistricting plan, unveiled by House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, D-Mattapan, would move McGovern's district to his home base in Greater Worcester, while the 4th District would be reshaped to cover the Boston suburbs, including Frank's home base of Newton.

Frank said he would stay in the 4th District.

"I'm totally surprised by it," he said of the new map. "I had not seen it coming. It was nothing I sought. I am very happy with my current district and have grown very happy representing Fall River for 20 years."

But Frank added, "On the other hand, I think it's the wishes of the people of southeastern Massachusetts what's most important here, not what any of the politicians want. I worry about people saying, 'We created it for a southeastern Massachusetts person.'"

Since he lives in Newton, Frank said he would stay in his new district. The communities in the new 4th District -- including Cambridge, Brookline and Newton -- are Democratic strongholds.

"I don't think my career is at risk here," he said.

Frank said he would ask his constituents what they want.

"It's a fundamental decision for the state to make now," he said. "It's a proposal to make some fairly drastic changes. At this point, I'm ready to let the public speak and see what they say."

With Lambert and Frank out of the picture, the focus has been on state Sen. Mark C. Montigny, D-New Bedford, and state Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton.

Montigny has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for lieutenant governor, running on a ticket with Senate President Thomas Birmingham, D-Chelsea, who is seeking the governor's office next year.

Montigny has also indicated his interest in running for Senate president once Birmingham steps down.

Pacheco is now running in a special election in the 9th Congressional District, to fill the seat held by the late Joseph Moakley.

Taunton is now in the 9th District, but the remap puts the Silver City in the new 5th District. If Pacheco wins the primary, the House might shift Taunton back into the 9th District. If he loses the Sept. 11 Democratic primary, Pacheco could run in the new district.

Pacheco's candidacy could also be a rallying point for this region's large Portuguese population.

Two other candidates said they're weighing their options.

Asked if he would run, Rodrigues said, "It's possible, but it's too soon to speculate. I'm not ruling anything out, but I'm not ruling anything in."

Hodgson would make an intriguing candidate -- and possibly the only prominent one -- for the Republicans. In 1997, he was appointed to the seat by former Gov. William F. Weld, to replace retiring Sheriff David Nelson.

A year later, Hodgson won the seat outright, becoming the first Republican in decades to win a majority of the votes in Bristol County.

Hodgson said he recognizes the strengths he would bring to the race, and likes the idea of giving a conservative voice to the Bay State's all-Democratic congressional delegation.

"I recognize, strategically, the advantage of having virtually all of the cities and towns in Bristol County in the district," he said.

"That's pretty much a majority of where I ran, as a sitting county official who was blessed with the support of the voters," Hodgson said.

Hodgson said he finds speculation that he might run "humbling to me, and I'm flattered by that. But the underlying message is perhaps that people are looking for balance in terms of our representation from Massachusetts. We need to have the more conservative philosophies and opinions involved in the debate."

Hodgson said he hasn't yet "given any personal consideration to running at this point. I do love my job as sheriff."

But Hodgson acknowledged that the state Republican Party would probably encourage him to run, and he's ready to listen.

"Probably one of my strengths and beliefs is when you're in elected office, you always sit down and listen to anybody who has points to make or arguments to advance," he said.

The new 5th District would include every community in Bristol County, including Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro.

Four towns in Norfolk County -- Foxboro, Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham -- would also be in the new district, as well as six towns in Plymouth County: Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro and Rochester.

In all likelihood, the district would lean to the Democrats, though perhaps not overwhelmingly. The communities from both Norfolk and Plymouth counties are as close as the state gets to Republican territory.

State Rep. Robert Correia, D-Fall River, who helped draft the new lines as a member of the House Redistricting Committee, said if a Fall River candidate wins the seat, it would be the first time this city has sent someone to Congress since William S. Greene won in 1912.

"This is going to be a wide open district, and that makes it even more exciting for our people," Correia said.

The Herald News
House changes start political maneuvering
By Michael W. Freeman
July 12, 2001

The state's first new redistricting plan would be drawn so that U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern would no longer represent this region, while creating an entirely new district centered almost entirely around Bristol County.

This would be the first time in nearly a century that Fall River, New Bedford, Attleboro and Taunton were linked in the same congressional district.

If approved by the Legislature, the new 5th Congressional District would have no incumbent, creating a windfall for every ambitious politician in the region.

Frank cleared the way for them on Wednesday, saying he would run in the new 4th Congressional District, centered around Boston's suburbs, including Cambridge, Brookline and his home base of Newton.

"If the public believes that it would be better to have a southeastern Massachusetts district, I wouldn't take that as a personal attack," Frank said. "I think we should all abide by their wishes."

While several local political leaders expressed disappointment at the notion of losing Frank and McGovern -- and the considerable seniority and clout they have in Congress -- few could restrain their enthusiasm for the idea of a southeastern Massachusetts district.

State Rep. Robert Correia, D-Fall River, who serves on the House Redistricting Committee and was instrumental in getting the lines drawn, hailed the 5th District as a dramatic breakthrough for this region.

"This is what dreams are made of," Correia said. "It's a brand new, open seat, one that holds southeastern Massachusetts together. We would no longer be the tail end of any other district. We would be an integral part of this district."

Correia added that, "This isn't really anything new. From 1859 until 1913, this seat was unified, and it actually looked like they took turns electing someone from Fall River and then someone from New Bedford."

For the past 10 years, Fall River has been divided between two congressional districts. In the 3rd District, McGovern has Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Dartmouth and the South End of Fall River. In the 4th District, Frank represents Freetown, Dighton, Berkley, Rehoboth and Fall River's North End.

Under the new proposal, McGovern's district would drop Greater Fall River and would be centered around his home base of Worcester and other towns in central Massachusetts.

The new 4th District keeps Frank in the Boston suburbs.

The new 5th District would include all 20 cities and towns in Bristol County, plus four towns in Norfolk County -- Foxboro, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham -- and six towns in Plymouth County. They include Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro and Rochester.

The plan has a long way to go before it becomes a reality. The House does not plan to vote on the map until after Sept. 11, the date of a special primary in the state's current 9th Congressional District.

The district's incumbent, Democrat Joseph Moakley, died earlier this year, and there's a large field of candidates vying to succeed him, including state Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, who lives in Taunton. That city is now in the 9th District, but the remap puts Taunton in the new 5th District.

"In deference to the race going on for Joe Moakley's seat, we're not going to take this up until Sept. 11," Correia said. "We wanted that to be settled first."

If Pacheco wins the primary, Taunton could be shifted back into Moakley's old district, Correia said.

"It could change. There could be tweaking here and there," he said.

Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. had urged the Redistricting Committee to maintain the status quo, and keep the city divided between two districts. On Wednesday, the mayor said he had a mixed reaction to the plan.

Lambert said he regrets the loss of Frank and McGovern, and the influence they bring to the table -- something a freshman lawmaker wouldn't have.

The two congressmen have worked together to bring federal funding to the city for its combined sewer overflow project, for a study of the redesign of Route 79 and Davol Street, and other critical local programs.

"It's certainly a dramatic redrawing of the lines," Lambert said. "From my perspective, I think there's a real short-term negative impact to losing both Barney Frank and Jim McGovern. They have been among the most effective team any city could have. Their seniority is very difficult to replace."

Still, Lambert couldn't hide his enthusiasm for the idea of a compact southeastern Massachusetts seat, something he lobbied for during the last redistricting process in 1991, when Fall River was first split between two districts.

"I understand what this plan tries to do," Lambert said. "It's hard to argue against it, despite my practical feelings about keeping Barney and Jim in place. I think long term, it can have some benefit to the city and the region. We're growing in numbers and political clout. I'm not looking to obstruct it from happening."

State Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, who is considering a possible bid for the seat, took a similar view. On one hand, Rodrigues said he regrets losing Frank.

"Barney Frank is the best and smartest congressman in Washington, as far as I'm concerned," he said. "I think that means something. We have developed relationships with our congressmen. We've worked closely with our delegation. You lose that working relationship. We'll have to start from ground zero."

But Rodrigues added, "It's hard to argue against these lines. Now we have an opportunity to elect someone from Fall River to Congress. That's no reflection on who we've had representing us, but I think it's about time that we have our own congressional district."

Correia said this city hasn't elected a congressman from Fall River since William S. Greene served from 1898 until 1913.

"This is the first time in 87 years that someone from southeastern Massachusetts, whoever he or she may be, will have the opportunity to run for a congressional seat under this plan," Correia said.

The plan still has to be approved by the House, and the Senate will draft its own redistricting plan. Both versions will have to be merged into one. A final map is not likely to be approved until late this year, or early in 2002.

Still, Correia is very excited about this new map.

"I have absolutely no problems with the congressmen that have represented us. Both of them toed the line and made it work," Correia said.

"But with all the changing dynamics in our area, I think this may be the time for southeastern Massachusetts to be able to stay contiguous, unified, and send one of its own to Congress. This is a dramatic plan. It's an exciting plan, and one that I'm sure will generate a great deal of debate, but I think it's one worth looking at. Our time really has come."