Legislative Redistricting Will Impact Tewksbury, Adams

Paul, we hardly knew you.

Whether he gets re-elected in 2012 or not, days representing the people of Tewksbury will come to an end at the completion of his first term in office.

Precincts 3 and 3A, which had been part of Adams' 17th Essex District, will be switched to the 18th Essex District as of January, 2013.

Adams, an Andover Republican, is a freshman legislator who won the seat with an surprise win over Democrat Patricia Commane last November.

"Tewksbury is such a great town and it is such a privilige to represent the people here," said Adams, after the new districts were announced. "I won't be going away. I will still be representing Tewksbury for another year and three months."

The new Legislative district maps were unveiled by the Legislature’s Committee on Redistricting, Tuesday afternoon. The new districts will remain in place through at least 2022.

The 18th Essex is currently represented by state Rep. Jim Lyons, R-Andover, another legislative rookie. Lyons defeated Democratic incumbent Barbara L'Italien last November.

The change will also have a personal impact on Adams. As has been rumored for months, the new districts have moved Adams home into the 18th Essex District. But rather than engage in a primary fight with fellow Republican Lyons, Adams said he intends to move into the portion of Andover that will be in the 17th Essex.

"I definitely intend to run for re-election," said Adams.

In addition to Andover and Tewksbury, the new 18th Essex will include sections of Boxford and North Andover.

The redistricting had no impact on Wards 1, 2 and 4 in Tewksbury, which will remain part of the 19th Middlesex District, present represented by . Miceli's district, on the whole, will remain virtually unchanged.

The 2nd Middlesex/Essex Senate district of, will be unchanged in the new maps. The 2nd Essex Middlesex/Essex includes Tewksbury Andover, Lawrence and Dracut.