State redistricting rearranges Stoneham representation
Published on October 24th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - For years Stoneham has had two state reps splitting the town down the middle, but in 2002 everything changes: Paul Casey will represent six out of seven precincts, Carol Donovan will represent Precinct 3 in the northwest corner of town, and Representative Mike Festa no longer has any Stoneham territory.
State Representatives approved the decennial redistricting plan by a 128 to 21 vote. Casey and Festa voted for the change. Donovan voted against it. A lot has been said about the motives of House Speaker Thomas Finneran, but the deal is done.
Festa, a Melrose Democrat, had the south side of Stoneham as well as all of Melrose. He will now serve all of Melrose and Precincts 3,4,5,6 in Wakefield, the new 32nd Middlesex District.
“Mike’s sad to leave Stoneham. He’s made great friendships there,” said Legislative Aide Amo Cefalo. “But he is also looking forward to the same relationship with Wakefield.”
Casey, a Winchester Democrat, served all of Winchester, the north side of Stoneham and Precincts 3 and 5 in Reading. He will now serve all of Winchester and all but Precinct 3 in Stoneham, the new 31st Middlesex District. (Because Stoneham gained a precinct earlier this year Casey represents Stonehamites in Precincts 1, 2,4,5,6 and 7.)
Casey, Tax Committee Chairman and longtime member of the House leadership, has done well in Stoneham in past elections. He gains solid Democratic territory with the shift.
Donovan, a Woburn Democrat, represented all of her city. Now she will serve Precinct 3 in Stoneham, Precincts 3,4 and 5 in Reading and Wards 2,3,4,5 and 6 in Woburn, the new 30th Middlesex District. Woburn Wards 1 and 7 will now be with Lexington Democrat Jay Kaufman.
Donovan is not happy that Woburn’s representative district has been split up for the first time in more than 20 years. She participated in a failed rally Monday to delay the vote. Donovan accused Finneran of targeting women who have voted against the Speaker.
Stoneham faces an odd future.
“Casey represents everyone but me,” joked Selectmen Chairman Tony Kennedy, a Janice Road resident. Although, he thought the new plan was “funny,” he wasn’t happy about it.
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