Council OK's two redistricting plans, but talks to continue

AFTER HOURS of negotiating and failed attempts at last-minute changes, City Council gave preliminary approval to two redistricting plans yesterday that would fix some of the gerrymandering problems in the city's 10 Council districts.

But talks are expected to continue into next week, with much behind-the-scenes jockeying by two members seeking to become the next Council president - Marian Tasco and Darrell Clarke. And it is possible that two redistricting options could land on Mayor Nutter's desk, an outcome he's reportedly not enthusiastic about.

Council gave committee-level approval to a map produced by a working group of Council members including Brian O'Neill, Anna Verna, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Tasco and Clarke, and an alternative map from Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco.

Both maps approved yesterday would make the tortured 7th District, represented by Quinones-Sanchez and considered one of the nation's most gerrymandered, more compact. The key difference is how the maps deal with the 56th Ward in the Northeast - represented by powerful Democratic ward leader John Sabatina - that no member wants.

In the working-group map, 75 percent of the ward would be in O'Neill's 10th District and the rest in the 6th District, represented by outgoing Councilwoman Joan Krajewski. The Kenney-DiCicco plan sticks O'Neill with the entire ward.

O'Neill, the Republican, reportedly doesn't want to take on more Democratic voters and has been pushing for a fix that would give him less of the ward. Sources said that both Tasco and Clarke were attempting to help O'Neill yesterday in exchange for his support for the presidency.

Tasco yesterday tried to amend the working-group map by giving the 6th District more of the 56th Ward. But her effort failed to win enough votes. And Clarke acknowledged that he was privately working on some proposals.

The Council presidency has "always been in play," DiCicco said. "No one has come out and raised their hand to say you're with me for presidency, but everyone is trying to show leadership . . . [which] helps in that step for Council presidency."

For his part, O'Neill admits that he wants to secure his position in the general election by splitting the ward more evenly.

"I always try to improve my chances of winning; that's what everybody does," O'Neill said. "It's never been about Republican voters. It's been about finding a few Democrat ticket-splitters."

Several outcomes seem possible going into next week's Council session. Council can give final passage to one or both bills. If it sends two bills to Nutter, he would have to make the final decision on which to sign - or veto both. Or Council could try to amend the bills, which would extend its calendar beyond next Thursday. Under city law, Council members would then go without pay.

The administration does not want to choose between multiple bills, said a source, who added, "If they send two bills, that ain't gonna roll."

"Obviously, they will have to come to a final decision," mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald said. "We will take a look at what is sent to us."