Three area lawmakers will see significant changes in their district boundaries and a fourth will no longer represent parts of the area after Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed redistricting maps late last week.
Earlier this session, both Statehouse chambers passed updates to their respective maps for the next 10 years:
*17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia gains Morris and Geary counties while losing the west half of Wabaunsee and part of Pottawatomie counties.
*51st District Representative Ron Highland of Wamego will no longer represent the north half of Lyon County. His territory shifts northwest to include southeast Riley County, including Manhattan.
*76th District Representative Eric Smith assumes Highland’s territory in north Lyon County and also adds parts of central and Osage County.
*13th District Representative Joe Newland of Neodeshea, who currently represents Greenwood County, will add southwest Lyon County and all of Chase County.
The only area lawmaker with minimal changes to his territory is 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia.
Governor Kelly also signed changes to the Kansas State Board of Education map. Lyon and Morris counties will be shifted out of the Seventh District, currently represented by Ben Jones of Sterling, to the Sixth District as represented now by DeAnna Horst of Salina. Chase and Greenwood counties move from the Seventh District to the Ninth District represented by Jim Porter of Fredonia. Coffey County stays in the Ninth District, while Osage County stays in the Fourth District represented by Ann Mah of Topeka.
