Sen. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist.37), South Kingstown’s only state senator for the last 15 years, won’t be representing 3,406 of the town’s residents anymore, as the state General Assembly passed redistricting legislation yesterday.  

Historically, the town has always been left whole as far as senatorial districts are concerned, and Town Council members are worried that lopping off parts of the town’s southern and eastern flanks could undermine South Kingstown’s needs on Smith Hill.

“My concern is with the Senate and what has happened to South Kingstown,” said Councilman James O’Neill at a Jan. 23 Town Council meeting. “Instead of on South Kingstown district, we will be in the super minority.”

Under the Senate map approved on Wednesday, the majority of the town — 27,233 people — will remain in District 37, but 2,294 Green Hill residents to the south and 1,112 voters near the Narrow River who live to the east will be pushed into districts 38 and 35, respectively.

“There is a positive side: We will end up having more representation for South Kingstown,” said Sosnowski in an interview on Wednesday. “I don’t see that there is a down side to this. There will be three voices in the Senate speaking for South Kingstown.”

O’Neill worried slicing off such small sections of the population would be tantamount to putting South Kingstown’s agenda in the minority.

“In those two flanks we are becoming a minority interest,” said O’Neill.

“What’s really being destroyed here is common borders,” O’Neill added, referring to the sprawling, hook-like shape of the new Senate District 35 — currently represented by Sen. Dawson Hodgson, a Republican.

“What commonality do we have with western North Kingstown and with southern East Greenwich,” O’Neill asked.

O’Neill said South Kingstown should be paired with Narragansett because the two towns share wastewater facilities, fire services and economic interests, among other attributes.

“House districts many, many times are spanning towns,” said Sosnowski, relating the senatorial lines in South Kingstown’s new Senatorial districts to the House districts, which, though smaller, often include multiple communities.

“Whoever is in the seat should be able to represent every portion of every town,” Sosnowski added. “You take care of what you have to do.”

Under the maps adopted on Wednesday, Narragansett’s south end will join South Kingstown in District 35. Combined, Narragansett and South Kingstown voters will comprise 35 percent of the district’s total population. East Greenwich holds a majority with 44 percent.

“If I run and am reelected, my hometown will constitute 21 percent of the district, so I can understand that perspective,” said Hodgson, who lives in Slocum Village in North Kingstown. “To folks in South Kingstown and Narragansett, the issues I advocated for in my first term have been of statewide importance, and I would be an advocate for municipal governments in the two towns new to my district.”

To the south in Senate District 38, South Kingstown is grouped entirely with other coastal communities who depend on similar economic generators, but South Kingstown will hold a minority with 8 percent of the district’s total population. Westerly is in the majority there with about 81 percent, followed by Charlestown with 11 percent. During the redistricting process, the committee tried to balance populations within each district to match an “ideal” district size of 27,699 people.

Calls to Sen. Dennis L. Algiere (R-Dist. 38) were not returned to Patch by press time.

Redistricting occurs once every 10 years and is based on population and demographic data provided by the census.

“Understand that there was going to be more than one because of the population increase,” said Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist.35). Rhode Island saw an overall population increase of about 4,000 people. In South Kingstown, population jumped by about 3,000.

Sosnowski said she didn’t receive any communications complaining about the divisions from the Town Council until after their approval by the Committee on Judiciary.

“I don’t understand the negativity,” said Sosnowski. “I think this will be very good for the town — whoever is in office.”

In the House, South Kingstown was already divided into four districts: 33, 34, 35 and 36. While there is some shift in the boundaries, the districts are remaining largely the same and several polling locations are being swept into new territory, which could upset the November elections.

“It’s a deliberate attempt to change the results of upcoming elections,” said Rep. Spencer E. Dickinson, (D-Dist. 35), on the shifting of the boundaries of both House and Senate districts. “It’s a deliberate attempt to make specific examples of certain legislators to intimidate other legislators. That doesn’t sit with me.”