Thousands of people in Greater Cincinnati will soon have a new, if familiar, congressman, as state lawmakers redraw congressional boundaries to reflect population changes in the 2000 census.

        The population decline in Cincinnati over the past decade, combined with Ohio's loss of one congressional district, has led state lawmakers to reconfigure the region's political map to achieve balance between Cincinnati's two districts.

        Republicans, who control the state legislature and have the power to set the lines, want to expand the west side district of Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, and trim the largely suburban district of Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.

        The new boundaries would divide Cincinnati roughly along Vine Street. The west-side district would extend from downtown to the Ohio-Indiana border and north into Butler County. The east-side district would be from downtown to southern Warren County and slip east as far as Portsmouth in Scioto County.

        The recommended changes, released at a hearing Wednesday in Columbus, would give Republicans a much greater advantage on the west side by adding predominantly conservative suburbs to what has been a politically competitive district.

        President Clinton won on the west side in 1996 — after tying in 1992 — and Vice President Al Gore carried the district in 2000.

        Mr. Chabot, elected in a national Republican wave in 1994, has survived three tough re-election challenges, with opposition from labor unions and environmentalists opposed to his conservative politics.

        The new district would encompass solidly Republican western Hamilton County, now represented by Mr. Portman, and shave the Butler County townships of Reily, Morgan, Hanover and Ross from Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio.

        “I'm pleased,” Mr. Chabot said. “I'm going to work as hard as I can for all the people in my district, whether they are Republicans, Democrats or independents.”

        The east-side district, which had been among the most safely Republican in the state, would lose western Hamilton and northern Warren counties and add swaths of downtown and largely rural territory to the southeast. Rep. Tony Hall, D-Ohio, would see his Dayton-based district expand into the more conservative suburbs of northern Warren County.

        “It's very difficult to lose areas you have represented. You develop strong ties and relationships,” said Mr. Portman, who would still have a strongly Republican district. “This is not a pleasant process.”

        Mr. Portman was enthusiastic about representing more of downtown Cincinnati, from Fountain Square to the Great American Ball Park and other development projects along the riverfront. The congressman has taken a major role in obtaining federal money for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, a new riverfront museum scheduled to open in 2004.

        Ohio, which grew by 4.7 percent over the past decade, was one of 10 states to lose congressional districts after the census documented larger population increases in states in the South and the West.

        State lawmakers have proposed eliminating the district of Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, who is under federal indictment on bribery and conspiracy charges, to drop to 18 districts. Mr. Traficant would likely have to run in the newly expanded southeast district of Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, to remain in Congress.

        Republicans now hold an 11-8 advantage over Democrats in the state's congressional delegation, and state Republicans used their influence, where possible, to improve the party's election prospects.

        The House is expected to approve the new maps early next week and send the bill to the Senate, where swift action is also expected. Democrats are likely to provide the votes necessary to pass the bill as an emergency, so it can go into effect the moment Gov. Bob Taft signs it into law. Without an emergency clause, the bill would take 90 days to take effect, forcing lawmakers to either delay the May primary or schedule a second primary at a cost of more than $7 million.

        But some Democrats warned Wednesday that they still have some concerns and could not guarantee their support.

        “There's still some things being done and still some people yelling,” Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, said.

       Jim Siegel and Leo Shane III of the Gannett News Service Columbus Bureau contributed to this report.

Flight-security plan could still have gaps
Luken picks Lemmie as new city manager
Race talks focus on changes
Plan to divide Cincy in Congress
Bank robber gets 21 years in prison
Church convention looks at pulling out of city
County to back Reds' appeal
Deters questions newsletter
He's devoted to bringing races together
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Clean Desk Day
Clermont sponsors flag contest
DeWine boosts re-use of hospital
King video a tribute by youngsters
Lakota East student aces ACT
Lawsuit: hair today, gone tomorrow
Lebanon trial hits snag
Little Miami schools ask for levy in May
Police consider sharing tasks
Vote on sales tax may be nearer
Warren political lines, reps would be changed
West Chester wins $10M judgment
Schools search for insurance
Artist brings an Irish touch
Bill would require ID to pick up OxyContin
Draud returns $500 donation
Kentucky News Briefs
NKU faces 'hefty' tuition hike
Study: Out-of-state casinos luring Kentucky money away