In light of recent city redistricting, many Madisonians can expect to receive postcards this week notifying them of their new City Council representative under the boundary changes that took effect Jan. 1.
The redistricting followed population increases reflected in the 2000 census. According to law, populations must have equal representation, and Madison’s population growth has been disproportionate, leading to redistricting.
The change in district lines means 18,783 Madison residents have a new alderperson representing them in city government.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said students are the largest constituency affected by the change.
The city of Madison had been divided into 20 districts since the 1990 census, when the total was reduced from 22.
Ald. Gary Poulson, Common Council President, said although there was some interest in reducing the number to 18 this year, the council made a conscious decision to retain 20 districts.
Ideally, each alder on the city council represents one-twentieth of the city’s population.
However, the majority of the city’s growth occurred on the west side, causing its 20 districts to be pushed to the west end, Verveer said.
Seventeen of the districts changed geographically, which prompted the City Council to authorize the mailing following their Jan. 8 meeting.
“Some of us now have constituents that didn’t necessarily vote for us,” Poulson said.
The council hoped to retain Districts 4, 5 and 8 as the three districts traditionally classified as “student districts.”
“We wanted to make sure we had three predominantly student districts. We ended up with only about two,” Ald. Todd Jarrell, District 8, said.
The biggest changes were made to District 5.
“District 5 was a very UW-dominated district,” Verveer said. “Now it has become less of a student district by a substantial margin.”
University Heights, a neighborhood of single-family homes, has now been placed under the constituency of District 5, increasing the number of homeowners in the district. According to Jarrell, homeowners vote more and “have louder voices.” Consequently, a representative may be elected who isn’t particularly concerned with student issues.
“It’s not that they won’t necessarily care,” Jarrell said. “They just won’t have the student perspective.”
Ald. Tom Powell has been serving as interim alderman for District 5, the only district with an upcoming special election. The primary election is Feb. 19, with the general election following on Apr. 2. Residents can find out more information concerning redistricting and the election on the city’s website at www.ci.madison.wi.us.
The redistricting may have decreased student representation, but Jarrell said students are not powerless.
“Students can vote,” Jarrell said. “But they don’t.”