HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Drawing straight lines and contiguous districts isn't easy, but the circuitous re-write of Senator Jeff Piccola's seat has many scratching their heads.
"This was a clear power grab by one party, the Republican Party," said Senate minority leader Jay Costa.
Costa, a Democrat, said the GOP has gerrymandered Piccola's district by removing the Democrat-leaning city of Harrisburg and picking up more Republican-friendly terrain.
Piccola's 15th District now weaves through Perry, western Cumberland, Adams and York counties, putting Sen. Pat Vance's 31st District in a lasso. Piccola next year avoids city voters angry at his push for a state takeover and motivated by Barack Obama on the ballot.
"I didn't do the takeover legislation to hurt the city of Harrisburg, I did it to help Harrisburg," Piccola said.
Although losing Harrisburg seems to help Piccola politically, he insists he had no input on the final map and didn't ask to dump the city. So was he surprised to lose Harrisburg?
"In reapportionment I'm not surprised," Piccola said. "Anything can happen when that final plan comes out."
Sen. Mike Folmer of the 48th District will soon represent Harrisburg. He said Senate leaders told him beforehand he might be picking up the city.
"I said okay. What was I gonna do?" he asked. "I'm not in the power broker business. It is what it is and it's fine."
The new district is what it is - and Folmer understands those who suggest that it's gerrymandered.
"When you look at that map, I hope I'm not ticking anybody off, but you could say that," Folmer said.
