HARRISBURG — Former State Superior Court Justice Stephen McEwen prepared to wish his colleagues happy holidays.

After many months, he and the lawmakers on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission had completed work on the state Senate and House legislative maps.

As he began his customary closing speech, the Delaware County Republican who was appointed by the Supreme Court to be the commission chairman stopped.

McEwen said he "felt a tap on my shoulder, and I'm thinking, 'What is it now?'"

The gallery and commission members burst into laughter because McEwen moved to adjourn the meeting before the final vote had taken place.

When it did, Democrats were not laughing.

The state legislative maps were drawn by a commission consisting of Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester; Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny; Turzai; House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny; and McEwen, who was appointed by the state Supreme Court as chairman.

Every 10 years, the legislative leaders in the General Assembly redraw the legislative maps to reflect the shift in population.

The final maps approved Monday reflected mostly minor changes from the preliminary maps introduced by the commission on Oct. 31.

Under the new map, state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne, will lose some municipalities in Luzerne County, while state Sen. John Gordner, R-Luzerne, pick up more geography in the county.

"The force of natural disasters and public corruption scandals could not divide the people of Luzerne County, but with a simple stroke of a partisan redistricting pen the communities that make up the Greater Wyoming Valley and the Greater Hazleton Area have been split into three state senatorial districts," said Yudichak in a statement after the vote.

Statewide, one Senate district and five House districts will be moving to new locations, reflecting those population shifts.

The new Senate seat is headed for Monroe County, and will be moving from its current location in Allegheny County, where it is held by state Sen. Jim Brewster, a Democrat.

Costa cast the sole opposing vote.

"I'm not sure if (the Democrats) will appeal this. We need to go back and discuss this" with other Democrats, Costa said.

An appeal would have to go to the state Supreme Court, but McEwen and other Republicans said that body has a clear stand on who should handle redistricting.

"The court has said that the Legislature should make decisions on redistricting," said Pileggi.

Dermody, who voted with Republicans in approving the final maps, said, "Certainly this is not a perfect plan. However, that is the nature of compromise."

The state House and Senate maps were made public Oct. 31. The process required a 30-day public vetting process that included two hearings for residents to express their views on the new districts.

Among the final changes in the House map was moving a Lackawanna County district to Monroe County, which brings to five the total districts moved.

On the preliminary plan, four state House districts would have moved. House leaders reached an agreement to move a fifth district after Rep. Ed Staback, R-Lackawanna, announced he was retiring.

Additionally, the 22nd District held by state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Allegheny, moves to Allentown and the House seat held by state Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Allegheny, in the 45th District, will be combined with the 46th District held by state Rep. Jesse White, D, Allegheny.

Other new districts are heading for York, Berks and Chester counties.

“The changes were not based on any political maneuvering. They were based on population results and population results only,” Turzai said.

The new Senate map and descriptions of the new districts are available  at www.SenatorPileggi.com/redistricting.htm.

The new House map and its descriptions are available at www.redistricting.state.pa.us.