Joseph P Kennedy Considers Run In Barney Frank’s 4th - District gerrymandered to oust Barney Frank – Worth Watching: Sean Bielat, Tom Wesley

From the Huffington Post: “Joseph Kennedy III Takes Steps Toward A Run For Congress” - the grandson of Robert Kennedy is considering a run at the newly re-districted 4th Congressional District that literally forced Barney Frank into retirement. The district, which was heavily gerrymandered in the past to aid the retiring Frank, with the urban areas of New Bedford and Fall River, has seen those lines redrawn – gone are the urban areas, and in are the small, very conservative, one might say Republican strongholds in the central area of the state, Worcester County.

Apparently, running a “brand name” is the Democrats strategy as far as an attempt to win a seat that, for all intents and purposes was a difficult win before the State Legislature chock full of Democrats, re-drew the lines – in 2010 Barney Frank faced opponent Sean Bielat, who was able to defy the beltway pundits and come within points of Frank (who needed help from everyone imaginable, including Bill Clinton.) Now, with the way the district has been withdrawn, it is conceivable that a primary may take place in the Republican Party – one which would also include Tom Wesley, of Hopedale, which is now part of the 4th. Wesley did to Richard Neal (D-MA2 now MA1) what Beilat did to Frank. There has been no formal or informal announcement from either Beilat (who notes an announcement pending in Janaury on his campaign website) or Wesley who contiues to maintain his website, yet there are no mentions as to any Congressioanl races) as to their intent for 2012; however, it would be a natural course, to mount a challenge, especially given the redistricting favoring conservatives.

The two Republican’s, who ran campaigns, with minimal to no help from the Mass GOP may find less now, as the new Chairman apparently was reaching across the aisle to donate to both the Deval Patrick (D) campingas well as other prominent progressives such as New York’s Chuck Schumer. One has to say it, only in Massachusetts can one find a Republican Party so moderate that the State Chair is actively aiding the opposing team! It would continue not to matter – as the state of the nation favors those who appear less affiliated with a party over one that is a “party brand” – especially if that Party in 2012 is Democrat – and that extends to Massachusetts.

This race may be overshadowed by the larger national general election; however, one has to keep an eye on the 4th, another opportunity to add balance to the powers in the State of Massachusetts.

2012 Mass Redistricting – 9 Districts – Neal (D-MA2 to MA1), Loses Northampton, Frank (D-MA4) Picks Up West, Loses New Bedford Changes by City

The New Massachusetts Congressional Districts

The New Massachusetts Congressional District Map has been released by the State Legislature, drawn by population (727,514 to 727,515 individuals in each district) – the new districts, surprisingly, almost make sense, regardless of the fact that the 2010 Census Guidelines (Suggestion) that Districts be Drawn by Minority Proportion (see figure below).




The Legislature has yet to vote on the proposed changes. The current make up of ten districts by town can be found here at http:malegislature.gov/District/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitileVIII/Chapter57,Section1 . Overviews of the proposed changes are summed up by Wicked Local/Lexington as follows:

U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-10th, would lose the city where he lives -- Quincy -- landing in turf now represented by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-9th. He also would lose Weymouth, Abington, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Hull. Keating would gain a new swath of territory to the southeast, including Middleborough, Rochester, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Acushnet, New Bedford, Westport, Dartmouth, a chunk of Fall River and Halifax from U.S. Rep. Barney Frank's, D-4th, district, as well as Hanson from Lynch's district.

Lynch would gain territory to the east while losing some of his western turf. He would lose Walpole, Medfield and Needham to Frank. He would pick up Quincy from Keating, along with Weymouth, Abington, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Hull. Lynch would lose his section of Hanson to Keating, while gaining a piece of Raynham from Frank.

Frank's district would lose a major piece of its southern territory, while picking up new areas to the west and north. Frank would pick up Milford, Bellingham and Hopedale from Neal. Frank also would gain Franklin, Wrentham, Plainville, North Attleborough, Rehoboth, Swansea and Somerset from U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-3rd. He would pick up a new portion of Fall River while losing much of the area he now represents in the city, while also losing part of Raynham and all of Middleborough, Rochester, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Achushnet, New Bedford, Westport, Dartmouth and Halifax to Keating. Frank would also gain Medfield, Walpole and Needham from Lynch's district.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-2nd, would pick up a broad swath of the Berkshires and western Massachusetts, while losing much of his territory in the Blackstone Valley and Milford area. He would no longer represent Milford, Hopedale, Mendon, Bellingham, Upton, Northbridge or Uxbridge.

McGovern would see his territory shift significantly to the west and north, losing some of his southern territory. He would pick up Upton, Mendon, a southern portion of Bellingham, Uxbridge and Northbridge from Neal's territory. He would lose Franklin, Medway, Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Southborough, Marlborough and Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-5th, would gain some new territory to the west. She would pick up Clinton and Marlborough from McGovern. She would lose much of her territory in Sudbury, as well as all of Wayland, Billerica and Tewksbury.

U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-6th, would maintain most of his territory. He would pick up Tewksbury and Billerica from Tsongas.
U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-7th, who currently represents Lexington, would expand some of his territory to the west. He would pick up Wayland and much of Sudbury from Tsongas, as well as Southborough, Ashland and Holliston from McGovern. He also would gain new ground in Cambridge.
U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano's, D-8th, district would stretch south to pick up part of Milton and all of Randolph.

U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-1st, who now represents western Massachusetts, previously announced he plans to retire.

It was the timely retirement of John Olver (D-MA1) which allowed for a much less contentious redistricting process.

The city and town changes (the PDF download is available at http://malegislature.gov/DownloadDocument. Richard Neal, now MA 1 is now Congressional Representative of the following:

Adams, Agawam Town, Alford, Ashfield, Becket, Bernardston, Blandford, Brimfield, Brookfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Charlton, Cheshire. Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Clarksburg, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Dalton, Dudley, East Brookfield (part) ,East Longmeadow, Easthampton Town, Egremont, Florida, Goshen, Granby, Granville, Great Barrington , Hampden, Hancock , Hawley, Heath, Hinsdale , Holland ,Holyoke, Huntington , Lanesborough , Lee, Lenox , Leyden ,Longmeadow, Ludlow, Middlefield Monroe, Monson,, Monterey , Montgomery , Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough , North Adams, Otis ,Palmer Town , Peru, Pittsfield, Plainfield ,Richmond, Rowe, Russell, Sandisfield, Savoy , Sheffield, Shelburne, South Hadley, Southampton, Southbridge Town, Southwick MA, Springfield, Stockbridge , Sturbridge , Tolland, Tyringham, Wales, Warren, Washington, West Springfield Town, West Stockbridge, Westfield, Westhampton, Wilbraham , Williamsburg Williamstown Windsor and Worthington

Richard Neal’s loss of Northampton is offset by a pickup of the Hilltowns which are, if possible, more Progressive than most areas of the Commonwealth (think very old hippy) – He maintains large population centers of Springfield and Chicopee and picks up Pittsfield. It remains to see if he will be challenged in the 2012 general. In 2010 there were two GOP candidates that ran against Neal, Dr. Jay Fleitman of Northampton, and Tom Wesley of Hopedale, both candidates now reside in the new District 2, and might find it easier to pick off say McGovern. In 2010 Neal did not easily cruise to re-election, having to call in Bill Clinton and campaign hard against Welsey, who came within twelve points of Neal, with no prior political experience. The District originally was projected as safe Democrat with Neal picking up more than 75% of the total vote. With the main challengers out of the way, so to speak, Neal should rest a little easier, unless of course, a challenge comes out of the hilltowns, from a more Progressive (Socialst) candidate than the current Congressman, which is honestly, hard to fathom.