Milton rep says he'll go with the flow if city's Ward 5 becomes his constituency

Chart shown during Tuesday's presentation by State Sen. Jim Gray shows the proposed ward with below threshold deviation of 4.17 percent; inset current Milton-Middleton Rep. Glenn Bailey. (Courtesy images)

The current state rep from Milton said on Friday he'd rather have his Strafford 1 district stay the same due to relationships he's developed with Middleton constituents, but if the Senate passes the current redistricting plan, he'll have no problems adopting to a new district that would include Ward 5 in Rochester.

City Councilor Chris Rice, a Democrat, pilloried the Republican-led House for crafting such a bill, saying it could lead to Rochester potentially losing three seats at the Statehouse,

In the last election Rochester was represented by one rep from each of its six wards and three floterials, which are seats that represent two wards apiece.

If the Senate passes the new redistricting bill Rochester would be represented by one rep from Wards 1-4 and 6 plus three at-large seats for a total of eight.

Most political insiders The Rochester Voice spoke with believe with Rochester's roughly 5,400 residents and Milton's 4,800, it's possible Rochester candidates could easily pick up two seats.

But City Councilor Jim Gray, who serves in the Senate and is chair of the state Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee, said whomver wins, it's a moot point, because "they'll serve as representatives of their district, not as someone representing only Milton or only Ward 5."

Strafford 1 State Rep Glenn Bailey, R-Milton, said he hadn't even thought about whether it would be easier or harder to win in the newly proposed district.

"I haven't researched it out yet," he mused. "It might be easier, I don't know."

Milton leans Republican, and President Trump in the 2020 general election had his strongest Rochester showing in Ward 5, winning the ward 51.4 percent over Biden's 45.2 percent.

Still, Bailey said it's a "brand new animal" and it's impossible to predict how it would flesh out if it passes. He expects there may be some good debate before the state Senate votes.

Rice did not return text and phone messages seeking comment on this story.