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Someone once told me that feeling gratitude without expressing it is like wrapping a present you never give.
My thoughts have returned to that idiom several times since the Legislative Reapportionment Commission first attempted to eliminate the 82nd District in its current form. It was on my mind as we went through a holiday season with presents under the tree.
I am incredibly grateful for all my constituents who have spoken out about the proposed changes to how they would be represented in the statehouse, so I want to publicly thank all of them now. And, I want to encourage others to join them before the Jan. 18 deadline.
I'm thankful for comments like "I think Mifflin and Juniata counties have more in common than most any other two Pennsylvania counties," "this would be a grave injustice to many constituents who live in this rural area" and "by splitting rural PA citizens' voices, you will have silenced the population of these counties."
I have talked to so many of you in recent weeks -- and you have ensured the Legislative Reapportionment Commission has heard you too.
On Dec. 16, the commission released preliminary maps that would divide up the 82nd District as we know it. I currently represent all of Juniata County, most of Mifflin County and three townships in northwest Franklin County. These communities share social services agencies, family values, infrastructure, agricultural ties and major employers. The new maps would split Mifflin County between other districts, cleave Fayette and Monroe townships from the rest of Juniata County, and expect Juniata County residents to share a representative with Perry County, which differs greatly from the rest of the region. Fannett, Metal and St. Thomas townships in Franklin County would be drawn into a Huntingdon County-based district farther from a population center than they are today.
Every resident of the current 82nd District would be in a different legislative district altogether. In fact, because of the commission's actions, more than 4.6 million Pennsylvanians would be moved into new legislative districts.
One of the few remedies afforded to those with concerns about the proposed maps is to lodge public comment before the maps are finalized. Because it is too late to entrust written communication will arrive via mail before the deadline, you should go to redistricting.state.pa.us/comment to be heard before Jan. 18.
The Pennsylvania Constitution allows for "any person aggrieved" by the preliminary plan to voice his or her concerns. I still maintain that all residents of the current 82nd District (all 65,000 of you) are aggrieved.
I have answered many questions from constituents about the proposal, and I continue to be more than happy to do so. Please call my Mifflintown office at (717) 436-6001 or Lewistown office at (717) 242-0423.
Regardless of what happens with these maps via the Legislative Reapportionment Commission or court fight I'm sure is forthcoming, please know that I am so appreciative of each of you. It has been my profound honor and privilege to be your representative since 2019.
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State Rep. John Hershey represents the 82nd Legislative District, which includes all of Juniata County and most of Mifflin County.