District of the Day: Senate District 30, House Districts 59 and 60

District of the Day: Senate District 30, House Districts 59 and 60

Cedar Falls may be UNI-ted behind the Panthers, but it's closely divided politically. A lot of tight races here the last few years, and with the lines not changing much we should see more squeakers.

Senate District 30

Registration: D 11778, R 12128, N 14707, total 38695, R+ 350
Incumbent: Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls

After narrowly losing a 2002 House race, firefighter Jeff Danielson gained this seat comfortably when Republican Don Redfern retired in 2004. It was much more dramatic four years later. Danielson held on by a recount-close 22 vote margin over Walt Rogers. This remains a swing district that Democrats will need to hold.

While he may get a tough 2012 race, at least Danielson will know the turf. He has the whole city of Cedar Falls, which makes up about two thirds of the seat. He drops two townships north of Cedar Falls and the line shifts just a little in Waterloo.

House District 59

Registration: D 5752, R 5264, N 7071, total 18150, D + 488
Incumbent: Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls

Kressig, 57, took this seat from one term Republican Ervin Dennis in 2004 by less than 200 votes. He held on for a 106 vote 2006 win over GOP heavy hitter Matt Riesetter, won comfortably for the first time in 2008, and scored a 52% to 48% over bar owner Darin Beck in 2010.

The line through Cedar Falls stays identical. Kressig has the northern two-thirds or so of the city geographically and 3/4 of the city's population, including the campus. He gives up two townships west of town as the district pulls all the way into the city limits. That gives him a couple hundred more Democrats, which given Kressig's past margins is a big deal.

House District 60

Registration: D 6026, R 6864, N 7636, total 20545, R+ 838
Incumbent: Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls

UPDATE July 18: Waterloo City Council member Bob Greenwood announces on the Democratic side.

After Rogers missed it by THAT much against Danielson in 2008, he set his sights on the House and Six Pack conservaDem Doris Kelley. She had picked up this seat in the 2006 Democratic wave and beat a late starter easily in 2008. No recount this time for Rogers, as he beat Kelley by almost 1000 votes.

Little changes in The Map for Rogers. He keeps the same piece of south Cedar Falls, the city of Hudson, and a similar chunk of southwest Waterloo. (One precinct, it looks like, goes to Deborah Berry.) He adds the two townships that Kressig sheds, as the district's Republican registration edge improves by about 400 voters. Does he stay with that, or does he go after Danielson again?

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