The Manhattan area chamber of commerce went on the record today (Friday), saying it is disappointed by the outcome of the Kansas Senate action on a map that would remove Manhattan and Riley County from the 2nd Congressional District and place it in the Big 1st District. Chamber president Lyle Butler says this stance is not a new one for the local chamber.
“Ten years ago, when we did the last census,” Butler told KMAN. “We lost a congressional seat. We went from five to four. There was a very active committee that was working on that and wanted to remain in the 2nd District then.”
Butler adds the Chamber established a taskforce comprised of Republican, Democrat, and community leaders who unanimously supported the effort to keep Manhattan and Riley County in the 2nd Congressional District.
“What (state leaders) said they were going to look for was to put communities and counties together that have that established community of interest relationships,” he said. “And that’s where that long history of our relationships have been, with communities going to the east.”
Meanwhile, the news release says the Chamber regrets the decision made by Senator Roger Reitz to vote for a map which runs counter to the efforts which have been undertaken thus far to retain Manhattan and Riley County in the 2nd District.
Butler says the local chamber occasionally makes such a statement, most recently regarding the school bond issue, quarter cent sales tax, and a few years ago on smoking in public places.
