State Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, says she understands why her senate district may soon include only a small portion of Henry County. But she doesn't like it.
On Monday, Indiana's Republican senators and representatives released proposals for how to redraw the state's legislative districts, and the proposed changes would have a major impact on Henry County.
Currently, Gard represents all of Henry County and all of Hancock County, along with one township in Hamilton County.
But under the new proposal, she would represent a small piece of Marion County, all of Hancock County and only the western and southern portions of Henry County.
The rest of Henry County would be divided between two other senate districts. Currently those districts are represented by Sen. Allen Paul, R-Richmond, and Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown.
Henry County would be one of only about 10 counties in the state that have three senate districts.
Paul's district would include all of Wayne County, all of Randolph County, all of Union County, New Castle, and the eastern portion of Henry County.
Eckerty's district would include the northern portion of Delaware County, most of Madison County and the northwestern portion of Henry County.
Gard said the proposed maps were drawn that way to balance out the populations of the three senate districts. While Hancock County grew in her district, most of the counties in the other two districts shrunk.
"I'm very distressed about it," Gard said.
But she added that the proposal would likely be similar to what passes the Senate. The new districts would take effect next year.
On the House side, State Rep. Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, would be Henry County's only House representative under the new proposals. Saunders would represent all of Henry County, the Hagerstown area and a portion of Rush County.
Currently, he splits Henry County with State Rep. Phil Pflum, D-Milton. Under the new proposal, Pflum would represent only most of Wayne County.
Saunders said he had requested that the entirety of Henry County be placed in a single House district, and Saunders said he was happy to see that proposed.
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