By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The number of aldermen representing portions of downtown could double under a redistricting proposal put forward by the city.
The proposed map has four wards touching the Rock River between Jefferson and Chestnut streets in the heart of downtown. Wards 2, 3, 5 and 13 all touch that stretch, with wards 7 and 11 starting on the outskirts of downtown. The existing map has that stretch of downtown divided between wards 3 and 13, with ward 5 on the southern edge of downtown.
“You may now have four strong advocates for investments in the center of our city,” Mayor Tom McNamara said. “You can’t point to an incredibly strong city that doesn’t have a strong downtown. There just isn’t one. So I think getting more advocates on board to support downtown is certainly a plus.”
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The new districts are required after the U.S. Census revealed population shifts between the city’s 14 wards. State law requires new districts to be drawn to reflect changes in population once every 10 years after the census is conducted.
“It’s a tough job because every time you move one line that affects all 14,” McNamara said. “It’s a bit of an art form, but I think overall they’ve really done a fine job with the draft, and I know they’re going to take the interests of citizens very seriously.”
The proposed map was created by a committee comprised of two Democrats and two Republicans on the City Council. Alderman Mark Bonne, 14th Ward, and Alderwoman Janessa Wilkens, 7th Ward, are the two Democrats and Alderman Kevin Frost, Fourth Ward, and Alderman Frank Beach, 10th Ward, are the Republicans.
McNamara said the process of redistricting wards in Rockford was devoid of the political conflicts that dominate the state and federal level. Beach agreed.
“Everyone pretty well got what they wanted,” Beach said. “I’ve seen some redistricting where it’s really a fight. … Let’s make what could be very contentious, not contentious.”
Beach said the additional representation in downtown wasn’t an intentional move. It was just a reflection of the way boundaries needed to change to reflect the population.
“That was just the way the numbers fell,” Beach said.
Review the map, offer input
You can take a closer look at the proposed map online at rockfordil.gov/redistricting. There are physical copies available for review in the lobby at City Hall, 425 E. State St., at the Rockford Public Library East Branch, 6685 E. State St., Montague Branch, 1238 S. Winnebago St., and Hart interim library, 214 N. Church St.
Residents are asked to offer suggestions or voice concerns on the proposal by emailing redistrictingcommittee@rockfordil.gov. The public comment period will end on Friday.
The committee will then hold a public meeting to review the map, address any comments and vote to recommend approval by City Council of a final map.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.