WEBSTER COUNTY, KY (1/25/12) – A controversial bill to redistrict the state senate went into effect immediately on Friday upon the governor’s signing of it into law. The bill shifted the district currently represented by Sen. Dorsey Ridley into Lexington, and moved the senator there, Kathy Stein, into northeast Kentucky. Most if not all of the area Ridley represented was added to the district represented by Kentucky Sen. Jerry Rhoads.
In a statement issued Friday, Gov. Steve Beshear expressed his disgust at the actions taken as part of the redistricting process.
“Redistricting is always a partisan process, and the current situation is no exception,” Gov. Beshear said in the statement. “However, the action directed by the Senate President to move Senator Kathy Stein’s district in Lexington to northeast Kentucky in order to keep her from being able to run for re-election, and moving western Kentucky Senator Dorsey Ridley’s district to Lexington, goes beyond partisanship. It reflects a personal vindictiveness that should have no place in this process.
However, the deadline for Kentuckians to file for these House and Senate seats is January 31, only 11 days away. Therefore, I am signing House Bill 1 today so that all citizens interested in filing for any of these seats will know what House or Senate district they are in and have time to get their filing papers in order to file for office.”
Beshear said he hoped to see the redistricting process change in the future.
“This situation also reinforces my belief that before redistricting occurs again in Kentucky, some type of non-partisan, citizen-based group should be created to participate in the process.”
Local officials also expressed disappointment at the decision to separate Ridley from his constituents for the next two years. Webster County Judge/Executive Jim Townsend said the action puts the region “at a disadvantage.”
“To do the citizens that way, it’s just a bad thing,” Townsend said.
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