Proposed Maine House redistricting could see major Midcoast shakeups

Tue, 09/21/2021 - 6:15pm

    AUGUSTA — Democrats and Republicans in the Maine House of Representatives have released proposed changes to the landscape of the Maine House districts ahead of the November 2022 elections, reflecting the latest data from the U.S. Census. 

    The proposed changes are a unified proposal coming from both Democrats and Republicans. 

    The Legislature’s Apportionment Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed House maps Thursday, Sept. 23 at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held remotely and streamed live here.

    RELATED STORY: Proposed Maine Senate redistricting could yield small – and large – Midcoast changes

    Presently, the house districts for local communities in the PenBayPilot.com coverage area of Knox and Waldo counties plus Waldoboro of Lincoln County are: 

    District 91: Friendship, Union (part), Waldoboro and Washington

    District 92: Criehaven, Cushing, Matinicus, Muscle Ridge, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston

    District 93: Owl’s Head and Rockland

    District 94: Camden, Islesboro and Rockport 

    District 95: Appleton, Hope, Union (part) and Warren

    District 96: Belmont, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, Palermo and Searsmont

    District 97: Belfast, Northport and Waldo

    District 98: Frankfort, Searsport, Swanville and Winterport

    District 99: Brooks, Burnham, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Monroe, Thorndike, Troy and Unity

    District 131: Prospect and Stockton Springs (plus five towns not in the coverage area)

    District 134: Isle au Haut, North Haven and Vinalhaven (plus eight towns not in the coverage area) 

    Newly Proposed Districts

    Isle au Haut and Vinalhaven would be in the newly numbered District 15 alongside the Hancock County communities of Brooklin, Deer Isle, Frenchboro, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swans Island, and Tremont. 

    District 37 would encompass the municipalities of Prospect, Searsport, Stockton Springs, and Winterport; and the part of the municipality of Frankfort generally east of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where Loggin Road begins at the border of Winterport, then southeast along the centerline of Loggin Road until it intersects with North Searsport Road, then southwest along the centerline of North Searsport Road until it intersects with the Central Maine Power Transmission Line Corridor, then southeast along the Transmission Line until it intersects with the Frankfort-Prospect boundary.

    District 38 would include the municipalities of Brooks, Jackson, Knox, Monroe, Swanville, Thorndike, Unity, and Waldo; and the part of the municipality of Frankfort generally west of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where Loggin Road begins at the border of Winterport, then southeast along the centerline of Loggin Road until it intersects with North Searsport Road, then southwest along the centerline of North Searsport Road until it intersects with the Central Maine Power Transmission Line Corridor, then southeast along the Transmission Line until it intersects with the Frankfort-Prospect boundary.

    District 39 would encompass Belfast, Islesboro and Northport. 

    District 40 would include Appleton, Belmont, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, and Searsmont. 

    District 41 would include Camden and Rockport. 

    District 42 would include Criehaven, Matinicus Isle, Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven, and Rockland; and the part of the municipality of Owls Head generally north and northwest of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where Dublin Road begins at the border of South Thomaston, then west along the centerline of Dublin Road until it intersects with Ash Point Drive, then northwest along the centerline of Ash Point Drive until it intersects with South Shore Drive, finally northeast along the centerline of South Shore Drive until the bridge over the estuary.

    District 43 would include Cushing, South Thomaston, St. George, and Thomaston; and the part of the municipality of Owls Head generally south and southeast of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where Dublin Road begins at the border of South Thomaston, then east along the centerline of Dublin Road until it intersects with Ash Point Drive, then northwest along the centerline of Ash Point Drive until it intersects with South Shore Drive, finally northeast along the centerline of South Shore Drive until the bridge over the estuary.

    District 44 would include Hope, Union and Warren. 

    District 45 would include Friendship and Washington plus the Lincoln County communities of Bremen, Louds Island and Waldoboro. 

    District 62 would include Palermo plus the Lincoln County communities of Hibberts Gore and Somerville, as well as the Kennebec County municipalities of China and Windsor. 

    District 63 would include Freedom plus the Kennebec County communities of Albion, Unity and part of Winslow. 

    District 68 would include Burnham and Troy, plus Clinton of Kennebec County and Pittsfield from Somerset County.