Most of the six proposed legislative redistricting maps under consideration would keep Wrangell and Ketchikan in the same district, but one proposal would separate Wrangell from its longstanding share with Ketchikan and move it into a state House district with Sitka.
A couple of the options would put Petersburg in the same district as Wrangell and Ketchikan, but half would assign Petersburg to a stretched-out House district from Prince of Wales Island to Yakutat.
The Alaska Redistricting Board is traveling to communities statewide to show the maps and get feedback as it works toward its deadline of Nov. 10 to adopt a new set of boundaries for House and Senate districts.
The Wrangell meeting is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at the Nolan Center.
The law requires redrawing legislative districts after every census. The redistricting board proposed two of the six draft maps that are touring the state, while other groups drew four proposals that the board accepted for consideration.
Using data from the 2020 U.S. Census, the board is working to divide the state into 40 House seats as close as possible to the same number of residents. The goal is “as near as practicable” to 18,335 residents per district, with the intent to keep neighborhoods and communities that share common issues together as much as possible.
Litigation is expected over whatever redistricting plan the five-member board adopts. Depending on the timeline for court action, the new maps would take effect for the 2022 legislative elections.
Of the six proposals, the board’s two draft maps would retain Wrangell and Ketchikan in the same district, adding Metlakatla to get closer to the ideal population count. In both board proposals, Petersburg would be in a district with Prince of Wales Island, Sitka, smaller Southeast communities and extending north to take in Yakutat.
The four other proposals — from groups affiliated with Interior Native corporations and Sealaska Corp., Republicans, labor unions and state Senate Democrats — present a range of options for Wrangell.
The Republican-affiliated group has proposed putting Wrangell and Petersburg in with Ketchikan, but excluding Metlakatla. The labor group would keep Metlakatla, Ketchikan and Wrangell together, as would the map offered by Native corporations. The Senate Democrats’ proposal would separate Wrangell from Ketchikan and combine it with Petersburg, smaller Southeast communities, Sitka and Yakutat.
The more controversial boundary battles are in the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas, where incumbents and challengers, Democrats and Republicans look for election district advantages.
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