Statewide Assumptions Not Applicable to Bucks Co
As the deciding vote in a 3-2 split on the LRC, the Chairman stated that the reason he supported changes in Pennsylvania's redistricting maps was because of population shifts within regions of the Commonwealth. However valid this may be elsewhere, Bucks County has not experienced this sort of population change. Bucks falls squarely within the necessary population growth to remain constitutional with minimal population displacement. More than 200,000 Bucks residents do not need to be reallocated while simultaneously making all but two legislative districts uncompetitive and leaving 80% of the voting population at the mercy of political party hand-picked candidates. This would result in increased political polarization that is antithetical to Bucks' historical tradition of relative political collegiality. Voters are the firewall that limits political parties from moving to the extremes. By packing districts for one party or the other, primaries will dominate the election cycle. This will of necessity result in more polarizing candidates being chosen. Again, this is contrary to Bucks County's long and cherished tradition of relative prudence and moderation which has made it recognized as an election bellwether not only for the Commonwealth, but also the Nation at large.