“I’ve heard this general idea that they want to split or combine those districts,” Niehaus said. “I do know I’m getting feedback from Montgomery County and from the folks around Wright-Patt (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) that don’t like the idea.”
Niehaus acknowledged meeting last week with Austria to talk about new districts. According to Ohio Republicans close to the redistricting process, Austria has had a series of meetings with Ohio lawmakers and others involved in the redistricting process to make his case to preserve his district.
Among them: Tom Whatman, a key aide to House Speaker John Boehner providing input on the congressional redistricting process.
“Tom speaks regularly with members of the Congressional delegation about a number of issues — including redistricting,” said Cory Fritz, a Boehner spokesman. “Those conversations are private, and will remain private.”
Fritz said the legislature is considering a number of options, “and we’re encouraging all of our members to be prepared for anything.”
Turner, R-Centerville, represents the 3rd congressional district, a swath that includes all or parts of Montgomery, Warren, Clinton, and Highland counties. Austria, R-Beavercreek, represents the 7th congressional district, which includes all or parts of Greene, Clark, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield and Perry counties.
A spokesman for Austria would not comment specifically on whether Austria has met with Republicans involved in redistricting.
“Congressman Austria is going about the business of being the congressman for the 7th congressional district,” said Tyler Grassmeyer, the congressman’s acting chief of staff.
The state will lose two congressional seats during the redistricting process, going from 18 to 16. It’s likely that Republican map-drawers will eliminate one Democratic and one Republican seat.
Earlier this month, the Dayton Development Coalition and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Gov. John Kasich, House Speaker William Batchelder and Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus urging them to maintain both districts, arguing that it takes two lawmakers to properly represent Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in the state. The two organizations wrote that any plan to combine the two districts “would damage the local economy and our ability to protect and advance WPAFB.”
And last week, the Montgomery County Commission sent a letter to Ohio Gov. John Kasich urging him not to support any plan that would split Montgomery County further. The county is currently represented by Turner and Boehner, R-West Chester.
Jim Siegel of the Dispatch and Jack Torry of the Dayton Daily News Washington Bureau contributed to this report.
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