Cicilline, Langevin spar over new maps

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Congressman David Cicilline’s aides have been frustrated and taken aback by the outpouring of hostility from his counterpart Jim Langevin’s office to the overhaul of Rhode Island’s congressional districts proposed by the redistricting commission Monday night.

Nicole Kayner, Cicilline’s campaign spokeswoman, described the new map as less drastic than others floated by the commission. One of their four proposals would have moved all of northern Rhode Island into Langevin’s district, including Cumberland, the hometown of Cicilline’s Republican opponent Brendan Doherty.

Kayner acknowledged Cicilline’s campaign supports changes that will make the district more heavily Democratic and said he also wants to ensure the state’s growing Hispanic population is represented, but she dismissed the characterization of the new plan as an example of gerrymandering.

Two of the four witnesses who asked the redistricting panel last week to focus on boosting Hispanic representation – Carlos Tobon and Laura Rodriguez – served on the host committee for a Cicilline fundraiser in October. Capitol TV’s video of witnesses who testified that day has no audio when Tobon and Rodriguez speak.

Common Cause Rhode Island and the campaigns of Republicans Doherty and John Loughlin have seized on the fact the map would move roughly 125,000 people between Cicilline’s and Langevin’s districts when the latest Census required that only about 7,200 be moved.

Staffers for Cicilline and Langevin made an effort to reach a consensus on redrawing the boundaries in recent days but were unable to come to an agreement, Kayner said. Langevin’s office admitted Monday they’d been willing to sign off on a map shifting about 75,000 voters, rather than the 125,000 in the latest map.

A joint letter sent to the redistricting commission in October by Cicilline and Langevin suggested the changes in their districts should be limited to the city of Providence. The new map would alter boundaries in the city but also move Burrillville, Smithfield and North Smithfield from Cicilline’s district to Langevin’s.

Those close to Langevin maintain his opposition to the new maps reflects his commitment to good government and distaste for gerrymandering rather than fears that the new district could put him in political jeopardy. Langevin defeated his Republican opponent by a 28-point margin in 2010.

The Cook Political Report rates the existing version of Cicilline’s 1st District as “D+13,” meaning a generic Democrat’s share of the vote is projected to be 13 percentage points higher than the party’s national average. Langevin’s 2nd District is rated “D+9.”

Kayner added that redistricting is not at the top of Cicilline’s priorities. ”The congressman is focused on creating jobs, getting our economy back on track, protecting Social Security and Medicare and pushing back against extending tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires,” she said.