Census Estimates Show Wide Variance In Congressional Districts

By Diane Scarponi

Associated Press

NEW HAVEN –– The population in the state’s six congressional districts varies widely by race and income, according to new estimates from the US Census.

The estimates, based on 700,000 surveys nationwide, show whom Connecticut’s six members of Congress are representing in Washington.

Connecticut is losing one seat in Congress because its population has not grown as quickly as other states. A nine-person panel has until November 30 to present a redistricting plan, or the state Supreme Court will do the job.

Members of the redistricting panel met informally Monday for the first time to set ground rules for congressional district negotiations. No decisions were made.

The group will consider the population, racial makeup, and political affiliation of each congressional district.

They also will consider “community of interest” factors – details that make a community a natural match for a congressional district. These factors include major employment centers, transportation infrastructure, and income.

“All of this will be looked at – everything we have – and trying to find similarities in areas,” said Deputy House Speaker Melody Currey, D-East Hartford, a member of the redistricting panel.

Community of interest data from the census shows:

The 4th Congressional District, which covers lower Fairfield County, was the richest, with the highest family incomes and housing costs, but also had among the highest number of people in poverty.

The 1st District, made up of Hartford and surrounding suburbs, was the poorest, with the lowest family incomes and the most people on government assistance.

Eastern Connecticut’s mostly rural 2nd District and the 6th District in Litchfield County were the least racially diverse, had the fewest children, and had the largest number of military veterans.

The 3rd District, covering the New Haven area, and the 5th District, covering Meriden, Waterbury, and Danbury, fell in the middle, with about average incomes and housing costs, and more racial diversity.

State Senate Minority Leader Louis DeLuca said the community of interest data is interesting and useful, but population is the determining factor when it comes to congressional districts.

“The federal guidelines don’t allow as much variance. You have to get down to one person, if you can,” said DeLuca, R-Woodbury. “Community of interest has to be taken into consideration, but ... what would override that is population.”

Currey agreed that population must come first in deciding how to draw the new district lines. But, she said, the districts also should be drawn to avoid splitting a town so that half the community is represented by one congressman, and the other half by another.

“It’s harder to do it on a congressional level, however, you can do it somewhat on a congressional level,” Currey said.

Republicans and Democrats also agree that they want to reach an agreement before the November 30 deadline, to avoid sending the dispute to court.