Politics & Government

Proposed New Legislative Districts Would Pit Sandack Against Radogno

Freshman would vie against Senate Minority Leader if redistricting proposal holds.

Local representation in the state House and Senate could change if Democratic plans to redraw district boundaries hold up.

According to Illinois Statehouse News, states are required to redraw district maps every 10 years to reflect population shifts. Lawmakers are using 2010 census data for this task, which must be completed by May 31.

Under changes proposed last week, Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) would  be headed to a showdown with Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), unless one of them moves to another district. 

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Sandack currently represents the 21st Senate district including the north side of Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace and Lombard, as well as parts of Lisle, Glen Ellyn, Elmhurst and other towns stretching east to Riverside. Radogno's 41st district currently covers a majority of Frankfort, Homer Glen, Lemont and New Lenox, as well as portions of south Downers Grove and Orland Park. Under the remapping proposal, her district would shift north.

But the Radogno-Sandack contest is just one of the potential inter-party clashes that could result from the redistricting effort in 2012.

Find out what's happening in Lislewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sandack, in a Chicago News Cooperative story published in Sunday's New York Times, said, “I was expecting as a new member, I would be a victim of gerrymandering. That’s part of the process. To the victors go the spoils.”

The freshman, who was appointed to his seat last November, tweeted earlier today that he is scheduled to appear as a guest on "Politics Tonight" with Paul Lisnek at 6 p.m. on CLTV.

Radogno spokeswoman Patty Schuh said the senator isn't sweating the plans just yet. "We certainly anticipate there to be some changes," she said.

"In hearings across the state, community leaders asked for the map to be drawn not for partisan politics but for fair and accurate representation," Schuh said. "But there are numerous Republican legislators lumped in together."

For more information, go to the Senate Democrats' redistricting website or the House redistricting website.

Elaine Johnson contributed to this story.


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