Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed the bill that approved the latest reapportionment for the House of Representatives and Senate.Reapportionment happens every 10 years to account for changes in population. This year, some areas will see a difference in their representation.Last week, we spoke to Jeffrey Bartley, a Fairfax resident who was upset with the upcoming changes to state legislative districts and how it impacted his town.Fairfax is going from their lone representative to a two-seat district combined with neighboring Georgia. It is not guaranteed that at least one representative will come from Fairfax.”It’s been many years that Fairfax has had it’s own designated voice from this town,” Jeffrey said.After weeks of conversations and seeing our story, Jeff’s wife Ashley Bartley decided that she wants to be a new face in their new district.”Just knowing that there is a very real possibility from my own town, that’s scary who knows the town better than my own neighbor and I think that’s fair to say for all Vermont.” Ashley said. “I really think I could be that voice.”Fairfax’s current representative, independent Barbara Murphy, already said she will not run again.Ashley is running as a republican and the first to announce a run in the district. She is hoping it ends up being a seat each for both towns. “Georgia cannot speak for Fairfax, so I think it’s important that Fairfax has their own representative,” Ashley said. “It’s really easy in rural Vermont to let our voices be quieted by Chittenden County and the larger counties.”Fairfax isn’t the only town impacted by redistricting.In the House, there will be 109 districts. There will be one representative for 68 districts and 41 will get two. Some cities and towns in the Northeast Kingdom will see some district lines looking very different.The biggest impacts, however, are in the Senate which goes from 13 districts to 16.Chittenden County is being divided into three separate districts. Chittenden Central and Southeast will get three senators each. Chittenden North will get one senator. It is made up of parts of Essex, Milton and Westford as well as Fairfax- the only Franklin County town.Some other big changes in the Senate are happening in the Northeast Kingdom.Six towns from Caledonia’s previous Senate district are now split up between Essex and Orleans counties. Caledonia’s new district is also losing a senator, now they’ll have just one.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed the bill that approved the latest reapportionment for the House of Representatives and Senate.
Reapportionment happens every 10 years to account for changes in population. This year, some areas will see a difference in their representation.
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Last week, we spoke to Jeffrey Bartley, a Fairfax resident who was upset with the upcoming changes to state legislative districts and how it impacted his town.
Fairfax is going from their lone representative to a two-seat district combined with neighboring Georgia. It is not guaranteed that at least one representative will come from Fairfax.
“It’s been many years that Fairfax has had it’s own designated voice from this town,” Jeffrey said.
After weeks of conversations and seeing our story, Jeff’s wife Ashley Bartley decided that she wants to be a new face in their new district.
“Just knowing that there is a very real possibility from my own town, that’s scary who knows the town better than my own neighbor and I think that’s fair to say for all Vermont.” Ashley said. “I really think I could be that voice.”
Fairfax’s current representative, independent Barbara Murphy, already said she will not run again.
Ashley is running as a republican and the first to announce a run in the district. She is hoping it ends up being a seat each for both towns.
“Georgia cannot speak for Fairfax, so I think it’s important that Fairfax has their own representative,” Ashley said. “It’s really easy in rural Vermont to let our voices be quieted by Chittenden County and the larger counties.”
Fairfax isn’t the only town impacted by redistricting.
In the House, there will be 109 districts. There will be one representative for 68 districts and 41 will get two. Some cities and towns in the Northeast Kingdom will see some district lines looking very different.
The biggest impacts, however, are in the Senate which goes from 13 districts to 16.
Chittenden County is being divided into three separate districts. Chittenden Central and Southeast will get three senators each.
Chittenden North will get one senator. It is made up of parts of Essex, Milton and Westford as well as Fairfax- the only Franklin County town.
Some other big changes in the Senate are happening in the Northeast Kingdom.
Six towns from Caledonia’s previous Senate district are now split up between Essex and Orleans counties. Caledonia’s new district is also losing a senator, now they’ll have just one.
