Delaware does not need more house seats in the legislature

by HOWARD M. BERLIN

6/8/2001

There seems to be a move to create several additional representative districts for the state legislature. In view of budgetary cutbacks of approxiamately 3% being required at virtually all state agencies this year, the additional costs to fund this permanent change is ill-advised.

For a state the size of Delaware, we allready have too many layers of government, with lots of overlap in many of the missions between local, county, state, and to some extent, certain federal agencies.

One dubious agrument that was put forth for additional House districts was he population that would be served by each representative will increase to the point whereby the elected official(s) would "lose touch" with their constituents. Humbug! This is a bogus argument. Far too many of of the people do not know the names of their elected officials and also too many don't bother to vote. the only time members of the legislature tend to make their presence really known to the general population in their voting district is when election time nears and we are bombarded with telephone, ringing doorbells, and junk mail.

No one twisted these politicians' arms to run for office, and far too many run unopposed every election cycle. Sen. Sharp thinks the bill is a bad idea for additional districts. For once, I agree with him.