SLAUGHTER BEACH, De. - Delaware is just two weeks away from a vote to finalize new legislative boundary maps that will go into effect for the next 10 years. The Senate will convene in a special session on Nov. 1 to finalize the maps that will define Delaware’s House and Senate districts for the next decade.
That’s just six days before the deadline for both parties to agree on redrawn districts, since candidates are required to live in their constituent districts for at least one year to be eligible to run in the Nov. 7, 2022 general election.
While the proposed maps do not include as many changes as officials originally thought, one town could be impacted should the Senate approve the new senatorial district map.
"If you could imagine it will come out from Kent County, the district, it will basically stop here, and it's just on the other side of the river. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me," explained Slaughter Beach Vice Mayor Bob Wood, explaining that the beach town, located in Sussex County, could be lumped into the 16th district under the new map. Wood says he and those who call the small town home worry their voices will be lost if their representation shifts.
"We've always been represented in the 18th district here, and for what you would gain or lose here, what would be the gain? It's a big loss for us, because we've built up all these relationships, now we have to go back and start from square one. And we're going to be at the very bottom end of their district," Wood explained. "Senator Bonini, I'm sure he's nice I've never met him, I'm sure he's a great guy. But it takes time to build those relationships, and then our relationships with the county, which we've just started a sewer district here. And that's a big deal for us."
Slaughter Beach is made up of just 250 year round residents, and Wood says the town prides itself on partnerships with surrounding communities, including Milford. The town will still be represented in the House by Representative Bryan Shupe under the newly proposed House maps, and he says he hopes the Senate will reconsider the current Senate map proposal.
"They are a small community, but they need huge infrastructure rehabilitation, they need grants to make sure that their natural resources are preserved, and there's a lot going on right there. And I hope that Senator Sokola and his team will consider moving them back into the 18th district," said Shupe. "They have built a relationship with Senator Wilson and myself over the years, and we have done our due diligence in learning the people, learning their land, and learning their needs. And I think that's really hard to replicate, to then start over again with someone who maybe is closer to the Dover area, which would be the 16th senatorial district."
Public hearings on those proposed new maps are being held Monday October 18th, Tuesday October 19th, and Thursday, October 21st. If you are interested in attending any of these meetings, you can click the date to be redirected to sign up to attend those meetings.