Groups want Ohio air base kept in 2 Congress districts

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Regional officials are urging that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base stay split between two southwest Ohio congressional districts to maintain its clout in Washington.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dayton Development Coalition sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. John Kasich and state legislative leaders.

The groups expressed their fear that redistricting could place the base within just one district. They say that could threaten efforts to protect Wright-Pat and its more than 27,000 workers.

The base is now shared by Ohio’s 3rd and 7th Congressional districts, which the regional officials say has been the case for much of its history.

The state must redraw district boundaries because the state is losing two of its 18 congressional seats due to population loss reflected in the 2010 Census.