The new proposed senate districting. (click for larger view)

By Andrew Firestone

With the Massachusetts General Court’s redistricting draft plans out on October 18, Sen. Pat Jehlen has, if re-elected, gained all wards and precincts of Somerville, with Sen. Sal DiDomenico losing his former constituent areas in Somerville. Under the new plan, which will be implemented if unchallenged, Rep. Tim Toomey will lose his precinct in Ward 2 to Rep. Denise Provost, and Sciortino would take a precinct from Ward 4 from Provost.

Jehlen said that her possibly new districts, if re-elected had “been represented very, very well by Sal DiDomenico, but he has a large group of communities, many communities, to represent, and I think that the consolidation of districts will allow both of us to pay more attention to each of our communities.”

“I think that’s a good thing,” she said.

Senator DiDomenico could not be reached before our print deadline for comment.

“I have always in my mind represented Somerville,” said Jehlen. “I never asked about precinct lines. Even when I was a rep. and I only represented half the city I always tried to listen to everybody from every part of the city, and I think the redistricting commission really wanted to bring communities together and I’m happy they brought Somerville together,” she said.

The redistricting, if approved will have Somerville lose one of its Senators, while keeping its three representatives. Jehlen would also pick up several precincts in Cambridge as well.

When asked how she felt with the full burden of the city residents on her shoulders, always a vocal and politically active bunch, she answered, “I think we have another very active and vocal constituency in North Cambridge that I haven’t represented. 40,000 new people I have to get to know.”