IRC
By Aaron Dorman | PinalCentral
The new congressional district map splits up portions of Casa Grande but connects much of it to Eloy and portions of the Tucson metro area and southeastern Arizona.
However, despite some proposed draft maps that were more favorable, Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said that he is generally pleased with how both the state legislative and congressional districts turned out.
“It’s a hard job to figure out,” McFarland said of the redistricting process. “They need to get enough population, and while I wouldn’t call us rural, we’re at around 60,000 people. Maricopa is similar, and the districts need almost a million. We’re going to have to be part of the Tucson or Phoenix metro areas to be part of that.”
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell said that overall he is pleased both maps keep Eloy contiguous; the current legislative map cuts off portions of Eloy west of Interstate 10.
“I kind of like it,” Powell said. “We’re all kind of together.”
The new legislative District 16 will include most of the major population areas within Pinal County, with the exception of regions closer to Phoenix.
