Politics & Government

Fattah on Redstricting: 'I'll Leave the Politics ... For Another Day'

The congressman will represent parts of Lower Merion.

Rep. Chaka Fattah will be counting on votes from areas he doesn't currently represent if he runs for re-election in 2012.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law today  that was approved by the state Legislature.

Under the plan, Fattah's district would keep parts of Philadelphia like Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk and Roxborough. But it would also include the majority of Lower Merion and all of Narberth—places that weren't part of the district before.

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

Cheltenham would also no longer be part of the district. It will be placed into the territory currently represented by Rep. Allyson Schwartz.

The total new territory covers 705,688 citizens.

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

Fattah didn't comment specifically on his feelings about the shift.

“I’ll leave the politics of 2012 for another day," he said in a release. "I’m focused on my responsibilities to the more than 600,000 residents of the current district.”

The state Constitution required the congressional lines be redrawn this year. Republicans, who have a majority in both the state House and Senate, controlled the process throughout.


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