New map adds Cape County representation

The every-10-year U.S. census brings with it the required redrawing of the map of Missouri's legislative districts, both for the House and the Senate.

This process was completed week before last with new maps for each house handed down by the appellate judges selected and charged with this responsibility. With the 27th senatorial district (Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, Madison, Scott and Mississippi counties) unchanged from 10 years ago, the big news for this area came in the new House map.

A look at that map shows that the judges carved up Cape Girardeau County five ways. Four representatives will actually represent most residents of Cape Girardeau County. The district of a fifth representative, state Rep. Lanie Black of Charleston, now comes north to encompass a tiny sliver of unpopulated area in the county just north of the Scott County line.

The new 157th District, currently represented by term-limited state Rep. David Schwab, comprises Jackson, northern Cape County and most of Perry County.

The new 158th District, represented by state Rep. Jason Crowell, includes most of the city of Cape Girardeau and is little changed. The new 159th District, represented by state Rep. Rob Mayer of Dexter, comes north from Stoddard County to rural southwest Cape County, including Delta and Gordonville.

The new 160th District, represented by state Rep. Peter Myers of Sikeston, comes north from Scott County to the Cape city limits.

Overall, this means four representatives will pay attention to the needs of Cape County. Not a bad deal.