District 12 Deemed Legal

"The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling that the 2002 redistricting and downsizing of the state Senate is legal and constitutional." This ruling upheld a previous finding. Little Compton & Tiverton had joined with Bristol to dispute the 20002 redistricting plan. Part of this plan split Tiverton, joined it with Little Compton and Middletown, and added a portion of Newport. I don't believe that any other district encompasses 4 towns.

To travel this district one needs at least 45 min. and has to travel through other districts. It seems rather outrageous to me, but evidently not to the courts who are upholding the law the way it is written. Even Sen. Gibbs acknowledged that the district had been gerrymandered for her sake. I know, I know. It's difficult to believe that a Democratic legislature would gerrymander in favor of a Republican legislator, but that's politics. And so far the gerrymandering has worked, although it didn't help former Rep. Christine Callahan much last election when she was defeated by Dem. newcomer Amy Rice.