Three area counties moved into new legislative districts
By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor
FRANKFORT – The Kentucky General Assembly passed redistricting bills Saturday that puts Lawrence and Martin counties in new House districts and Johnson County in a new Senate District.
The redistricting bills, which were sent to Gov. Andy Beshear for his consideration, places Lawrence County in the 100th House District, Martin County in the 97th House District and Johnson County in the 31st Senate District.
Lawrence County is currently in the 96th House District with Carter County, where its state representative, Republican Patrick Flannery, resides. Under the new plan, Lawrence County is part of the 100th District along with 29 precincts in Boyd County. The district is currently represented by Scott Sharp of Ashland.
The new 96th District includes Carter and Lewis counties along with a nine-precinct section of Boyd County.
The redistricting plan puts Martin County back into the 97th House District along with Johnson County and 10 precincts in Pike County.
Martin County is currently in the 93rd District along with a section of Pike County. With Martin County now in the 97th District, the current 93rd District representative, Norma Kirk-McCormick of Inez, would face fellow Republican Bobby McCool of Van Lear if she decides to seek the seat.
The new 93rd District was moved to Central Kentucky and includes part of Fayette County.
Floyd County remains in the 95th House District along with eight precincts in Pike County under the new redistricting plan. Democrat Ashley Tackett Laferty is the current representative for the 95th District.
The Senate redistricting plan moves Johnson County from the 30th District, currently represented by Republican Brandon Smith of Hazard, to the 31st District along with Lawrence, Martin, Elliott and Pike counties. The 31st District is currently represented by Republican Phillip Wheeler of Pikeville.
Under the new plan, Floyd, Harlan, Knott and Letcher counties stay in the 29th Senate District, which now also includes Bell County. The district is currently represented by Republican Johnnie Turner of Harlan.
Beshear has 10 days to sign or veto the redistricting bills or they become law without his signature.