Quinn Signs Off on District Lines, Giving Tinley New Representation

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Friday a map outlining new Congressional district lines that will overhaul representation for .

Under the updated boundaries, Tinley will no longer be fall under the jurisdiction of Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-11th). Effective in November 2010, the majority of the village will be in the hands of Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st), with parts under Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (R-2nd) and Rep. Daniel Lipinski, (D-3rd).

"There really are two issues here," Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki said Friday afternoon. "No. 1, we've had Bobby Rush as our representative in the southeast portion of our village for several years … He has been very responsive for us so with him covering the rest of our village, I feel very comfortable. The second issue is, this is a very political map. It basically makes our district a spoke coming out of the city."

The 1st district reaches all the way through Bronzeville, nearing the area of South Lake Shore Drive and Interstate 55, according to the new map.

It encompasses Beverly View, Washington Park, Woodlawn, Calumet Park, Evergreen Park, Blue Island and Oak Forest, among others.

"(Rush) will be representing some folks at either end of the spectrum, income wise, which is going to be a challenge for him," Zabrocki said. "I'm not saying he can't do it, just that it will be difficult. … It is one grand political map. There's no way you can hide that."

Despite heavy scrutiny from Republicans —they're expected to challenge the new lines in federal court—the Chicago Tribune reports that Quinn stands by his decision. He did not hold a public press conference regarding the bill signing.

“I have carefully reviewed the congressional redistricting map. This map is fair, maintains competitiveness within congressional districts, and protects the voting rights of minority communities," Quinn said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Republican U.S. legislators from Illinois districts issued a joint statement Friday, pledging to challenge the decision in court, and lambasted Quinn for signing a “flawed map” into law.

“We are disappointed that Gov. Quinn chose to sign into law this flawed map, thereby proving that his actions do not match his rhetoric," said a statement sent from Biggert's office Friday. "Despite his expressed desire for 'openness and fairness,' (Quinn) instead rewarded his democrat allies by approving this highly partisan map that tears apart communities and disrespects the will of Illinois voters as expressed in last fall’s election."

Republicans do not believe the map will stand, they said.