WESTERN MASS. – The winds of change varied for local state legislators from a gentle breeze to gale force as the Redistricting Committee unveiled its proposal for new district boundaries on Oct. 12.

Area legislators responded to the proposal, created based on 2020 Census data, that featured dramatic shifts in some areas caused primarily by population losses in Western Massachusetts. The swift public input process has already concluded with hearings on the proposal taking place on Oct. 15 and the deadline for written comments passing on Oct. 18. Following votes in the House and the Senate, the new district can be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker no later than Nov. 8, before candidates file for the 2022 election.

The changes, if approved, would go into effect in January 2023 and candidates for state representative and senator would be running for their new districts in 2022.

Slight shifts in the Senate

While the major population centers remain relatively unchanged for state Sen. Jo Comerford, three towns in her Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District – South Hadley, Whately and Colrain – stand to lose her as their senator. In exchange, Comerford’s district expands to the northeast with the addition of four Worcester County towns – Petersham, Athol, Winchendon and Ashburnham.

The proposed changes were a representation of the statewide shift of representation eastward due to the population trends reflected in the Census. However, while Western Massachusetts experienced overall loss in population, it will maintain the same number of seats in the Senate, something about which Comerford and other legislators expressed relief.

In a statement to Reminder Publishing, Comerford said, “I am delighted that Western Massachusetts will retain the number of state senators we currently have representing the four western counties under this new redistricting proposal. This was absolutely critical for the health of the region and not a guarantee going into this process. I'm very glad for the strong partnership throughout this redistricting process between myself and [state] Sens. Adam Hinds, Anne Gobi, Eric Lesser, Adam Gomez, and John Velis, with deep thanks to [state] Sen. [William] Brownsberger for hearing our interests and concerns. I have loved working with and serving the people of Colrain, Whately and South Hadley for the last three years and this projected change is hard. I reached out to the municipal officials in those towns yesterday and pledged to continue working as hard as possible for them throughout the remainder of this legislative session. At the same time, I will look forward to running for re-election in an expanded Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. My team and I are up to the challenge."

State Sen. Eric Lesser would become the South Hadley’s new voice in the Senate. Lesser’s district would also include Granby, Belchertown, Palmer, Warren, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow as well as portions of Springfield and Chicopee.

“From the start of this process, my most important goals were protecting Western Mass.’ overall representation by ensuring we maintained at least six senators for our four-county region, and that Springfield’s legislative power was maintained by keeping two state senators. Both of those objectives have been met, despite challenging overall census numbers, especially as population continued to shift east,” Lesser said in a statement. “I’m very excited to continue to represent Chicopee and Springfield, and to also add new communities of South Hadley, Palmer, and Warren. I am looking forward to getting to know and work in partnership with those communities on behalf of their residents and families.”

Shifts to State Sen. John Velis’s district would be exclusively in Hampden County. Velis would inherit West Springfield from state Sen. Adam Gomez while losing several Chicopee precincts. Gomez would take on one of the state’s five proposed minority-majority districts, including Springfield and most of Chicopee.  

Senate representation in Southwick, Tolland and Granville would also shift away from Velis. He would maintain his presence in Easthampton and Southampton.

“When the Census report came out showing populations trending east, all of us in Western Massachusetts understood that changes to our districts would be necessary,” Velis said last week. “For my district, that means moving east and potentially adding West Springfield, a town that I have great personal connections to. My mom and grandparents lived right on Orchardview Street, and I have spent so much time in that community throughout my life. I even spend my Tuesday and Thursday mornings working out at West Springfield High with Mayor [William] Reichelt and Rep. [Michael] Finn. I have so many strong relationships within the town and would relish the opportunity to represent West Springfield as their senator.”

Local changes to state Sen. Adam Hinds’ district would be scant with Whately joining his district. He would also take over Tolland, Granville and Southwick from Velis.

Significant changes in the House

In the House, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa’s 1st Hampshire District will experience a shift north. While she would maintain Northampton, Hatfield and Westhampton, the towns of Southampton and Montgomery would lose her representation in favor of Williamsburg, Cummington, Goshen, Worthington, Chesterfield and Plainfield.

The communities that would be inherited by Sabadosa are currently part of state Rep. Natalie Blais’ 1st Franklin District. Blais would also lose Shutesbury, Middlefield, Chester and Huntington while picking up territory primarily in northern Franklin County in the form of Hawley, Charlemont, Colrain, Heath, Rowe, Leydon, Bernardson and Monroe.

In her Oct. 13 newsletter, Sabadosa responded to the news by saying, “This district picks up more of Hampshire County, which I find to be a really exciting prospect. Keeping Hampshire County united to the greatest extent possible makes sense, and I'm thrilled to be picking up some wonderful towns. I look forward to getting to know them in different ways and working together.

“I must say that I am also deeply saddened to part with Southampton and Montgomery. It is a very emotional time as there are people that I love in those communities. There are also issues and policy work that I wish I could personally see through to the end.”

State Rep. Kelly Pease, whose current 4th Hampden District features solely Westfield, would gain Southampton.

“I am excited about picking up the town of Southampton as part of my new district.  I believe that it will be a good fit for both the Town and me.  Southampton is a great community and I look forward to being a part of it and meeting the people, along with the town leaders,” Pease said.

Sabadosa stated in her message she would work with Pease to “ensure a seamless transition.”

State Rep. Mindy Domb’s 3rd Hampden District will shrink in land area as she will no longer represent Pelham while retaining Amherst with its growing population and Precinct 1 in Granby.

Domb told Reminder Publishing, “I know change can be really hard and I think that Reps are going to continue to make their best effort to represent their constituents and their communities to the best of their ability. I know that in western Massachusetts we are going to continue to do that for our districts as well as for the region. I plan on continuing to work in close collaboration with all the other representatives and the state senators from western Massachusetts to make sure that the four county’s needs are heard and met.”

In her newsletter to constituents, Domb specifically said she would work closely with state Rep. Jake Oliveira, who would inherit Pelham, noting Amherst and Pelham’s many connections, including the regional school district.

In addition to Pelham from Domb, Oliveira would also take Shutesbury from Blais in what would be a massive shift for his 7th Hampden District, which is currently made up of Ludlow and precincts B, C, and D in Belchertown as well as Springfield’s Precincts E, F and G in Ward 8 and Chicopee’s Precinct B in Ward 6. His district would have a much more rural feel come 2023 by gaining the Franklin County towns of Wendell and New Salem, Worcester County’s Petersham and a fourth precinct to round out Belchertown in addition to Pelham and Shutesbury.

“The district is geographically changing quite a bit, but the population centers are remaining fairly consistent,” Oliveira told Reminder Publishing. “Ludlow has made up about 50 percent of the population of the district and that won’t change.”

With that said, the representative acknowledged the proposed changed would represent a significant shift in the makeup of his constituency. He noted Chicopee and Springfield feature denser populations, and the sections of those cities he represents make up 25 to 30 percent of the district’s total population with strong minority representation – namely Hispanic residents.

“Obviously these five communities I’m gaining are more rural and not as dense,” he said, also noting a far larger geographic area. “One of the unique aspects of this district is, if I am not mistaken, it will be the only district in four separate counties.”

Differences in geography and demographics aside, Oliveira said many of the concerns he has been working to address in his current district are universal.

“Going into these five communities, I’m going to face a lot of the same issues,” he said. “We’ve handled hundreds of cases of unemployment, housing insecurity, issues with state services like the RMV and licensing. These are things that are impacting every population, whether it’s urban or rural.”

Oliveira also noted Belchertown remains primarily rural and with the 10 months he has spent representing that area has him feeling “very comfortable” with the shift. He said he had already been in contact with those towns’ current legislators including Domb and Blais.

“A lot of Belchertown mirrors some of what you’ll find in those five communities and I’m looking forward to learning more about them,” he said. “When I got word about a week ago that my district would be changing, I took a drive up through the area, including Pelham and Shutesbury and I can say it was one of the most beautiful trips I’ve been able to take, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent these new towns.”

Dan Carey would remain the Easthampton’s state representative as his district remained unchanged in the redistricting process. He would retain South Hadley, Hadley and Precinct 2 of Granby in addition to Easthampton.

Michael Ballway contributed to this report. Carey and Blais did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.