Beech Tree News Network

The Kentucky House passed the redistricting plan Tuesday and refused to make any changes proposed by the Republicans on Thursday. 

As reported by the Associated Press, the House voted 63-34 to approve the divisive proposal after rejecting a Republican generated alternative that would have eliminated some of the oddly shaped districts in which Republicans would be pitted against each other in this year’s legislative elections.   

Congressional redistricting occurs every 10 years to account for population changes.

Republicans objected to the plan, largely because it includes new boundaries for the 5th District that would put Republican U.S. Rep Hal Rogers, the longest serving member of Kentucky’s congressional delegation, on the southwestern edge of his jurisdiction while extending the northern edge into Democratic territory, according to the Associated Press.  

Locally, the plan puts Butler County in a new district and State Rep., C.B. Embry, R-Morgantown, Jim DeCesare, R-Bowling Green, and Michael Meredith, R-Brownsville, will run against each other in the primary elections in May to see who is going to represent the new district.

Embry said he doesn’t like the districting plan at all. 

“It’s hardball politics at its best,” he said. “They had the power and they used it.” 

Embry will no longer represent Grayson and Hardin County. 

“I’m sad to lose them,” he said. “I represented them for 10 years. I expected some minor changes, to at least keep Grayson and Butler.”  

Embry added that running against DeCesare and Meredith is also a sad situation because they’re all friends. 

State Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said he’s unhappy about the redistricting plan’s affect on Butler County because it puts Embry in a tough position.  

“I’m not excited about it at all,” he said. “I hate to see it happen to C.B. Embry because no one has come close to representing Butler County as well as he has.” 

With all the changes brought by the redistricting plan, Embry managed to remain optimistic.

Butler County is heavily Republican, having the most registered Republicans, he said. 

“If the people of Butler County come out and vote, I’ll be successful,” he said. “The district favors me if Butler County comes out and votes.” 

For more information:  http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/HB1/RM.pdf

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Story by Amira Ahmetovic, for Beech Tree News.