Three Kansas House districts in rural areas
would be eliminated and three new districts would be created in the
Kansas City metropolitan area under a plan emerging in the
Legislature.
The House Committee on Redistricting introduced the map Monday.
Hearings on the plan will start Wednesday.
One district each in southwest, central and southeast Kansas
would dissolve under the plan. The map creates two new districts in
Johnson County and one in Wyandotte County.
The changes reflect shifts in population centers based on the
2010 census.
Republican incumbents Rep. Larry Powell in the southwest and
Rep. Tom Arpke (arp-KEE) in the central are running for Senate
seats. The southeast district could pit Democrat incumbent Reps.
Bob Grant and Jerry Williams in a summer primary if both seek
re-election.