Most of Mahoning and Trumbull counties stood as part of the same congressional district for decades until 2002, when the region was split following a loss of an Ohio congressional seat and the indictment of then-sitting Congressman James A. Traficant Jr.

Before then, Mahoning County always had been the “dominant county” in its congressional district, dating back to 1936, according to former YSU political science department chairman Bill Binning.

“Mahoning’s power has been diluted since the division (in 2002) …” Binning recently told our politics writer David Skolnick.

Finally, years later, we became hopeful that the district again would be reunited. We have used this space to argue consistently during the latest redistricting process that Mahoning and Trumbull counties share way too many commonalities to be split in different congressional districts.

When maps initially proposed by the Ohio Redistricting Commission grouped all or much of Mahoning and Trumbull counties together in one district, we were hopeful our arguments had been heard. Unfortunately, each time a map was proposed in Columbus, legal challenges were raised leading to the maps’ ousters, usually because of constitutional issues focused on districts in other parts of the state.

Months later, the ongoing and very controversial redistricting process still is unfolding amid turmoil and litigation. The Ohio Supreme Court had decided Jan. 14 the first submitted map was unlawful because it did not meet the requirements of fairness spelled out in an Ohio Constitutional Amendment adopted by voters in 2018.

Now, the latest Ohio congressional district map unveiled Tuesday illogically splits the two counties into separate districts.

We remain steadfast in our call for the common interests of our counties to be taken into account by the commission. Certainly, few communities have as many common interests — economic development, transportation and infrastructure, along with struggles against joblessness and poverty and even cultural, athletic and social engagement — as the cities of Youngstown and Warren and the counties of Trumbull and Mahoning.

We again point out that our counties have too many shared agencies, initiatives and projects, as well as common obstacles, benefits and visions for our region to end up splintered into separate districts. Frankly, common ground shared by Mahoning and Trumbull counties — and even neighboring Columbiana County — would be too much to lose should the Valley become slices of other regions’ sociopolitical pies.

This is why we have been so adamant from the very beginning that Mahoning and Trumbull counties remain part of the same district.

Even Binning recently said he saw little advantage to dividing the two counties into different districts.

“It makes sense to keep them together as there’s a lot of commonality between the two counties,” Binning said.

However, under Tuesday’s proposal from Republican members of the redistricting commission, all of Mahoning County would be part of the 6th District, along with Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Stark and Tuscarawas counties. If approved, Mahoning would be the district’s most-populous county.

Under the latest plan, Trumbull County would be included in a new 14th District with all of Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga counties and all but two communities in Portage County. Trumbull would be the district’s second most-populous county behind Lake.

A vote by the Ohio Redistricting Commission is expected today on the map, which was unveiled at Tuesday’s meeting.

We adamantly disagree with the plan to divide the counties, and we strongly urge the lawmakers to reconsider splitting the Valley before today’s vote, and before it’s too late.

editorial@vindy.com