The recently released 2010 Census data means that the boundaries of New Jersey’s legislative districts have to be redrawn, and the same will happen with freeholder districts. That means state senators and assemblypeople may lose some of their constituencies and get new ones.
New Jersey’s redistricting committee began meeting in February, with members submitting their suggestions on how the map should be redrawn. The commission is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, with one additional tiebreaking member.
Hotly speculated in recent months has been the future for Sen. Brian P. Stack’s 33rd District – which currently contains Union City, West New York, Hoboken, Weehawken, Guttenberg, and a small part of downtown Jersey City. Besides Stack, the district also has two assemblypeople representing it.
“In either case West New York would be well served.” – Sal Vega
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The committee is due to submit its proposed map to a judge on April 3.
Indication of things to come
From the beginning, there was some speculation that the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) would try to placate West New York Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega, who has a contentious history with Stack, by moving West New York into Sacco’s district.
According to West New York spokesperson Michael Makarski, “Mayor Vega has no role in this process – Senator Stack has done a fine job of representing West New York and the mayor knows that Senator Sacco would be great as well. Both are experienced, capable legislators he feels he can work with and in either case West New York would be well served.”
However, the first sign that West New York was to go to Sacco was that former 33rd District Assemblywoman and West New York resident Caridad Rodriquez recently agreed to run alongside mayoral aspirant Dr. Felix Roque in the upcoming West New York election against Vega and his slate of town commissioners.
Many regarded Rodriguez’s move as a way to protect herself if her town is removed from Stack’s district.
Hello Jersey City
As another indicator of the map to come, Stack, along with a couple of hundred volunteers, hit the streets of Jersey City about two weeks ago to introduce himself to his potential new constituents.
Currently, Jersey City is split between three districts: Sen. Sandra Cunningham’s 31st District, Sacco’s 32nd District, and Stack’s 33rd District.
If redistricting does couple Stack with a chunk of Jersey City that includes the Heights and Journal Square, it is expected that Jersey City will be split between him and Cunningham, and no longer among all three.
It’s widely perceived that this scenario is favored by the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) to put Stack at a disadvantage in upcoming elections. A push into Jersey City would mean the majority of his voters would be in Jersey City rather than Union City, where he’s popular with its large Hispanic voter base.
Hispanics account for 84.7 percent of Union City’s population, according to the 2010 Census, and in West New York – which Stack would lose in this scenario – Hispanics account for 78.1 percent of the population. Jersey City is 27.6 percent Hispanic.
Stack has volunteered and been active in Union City since he was a teenager, and thus has built support among many people in his heavily Latino town. His civic association each year gives out thousands of turkeys to the poor at Thanksgiving.
Stack’s canvassing of Jersey City is an indication that, whatever hand he’s dealt, he’s intent upon protecting his seat.
In a pre-emptive strike recently, he even sent a letter to current and potential constituents depicting his struggles with the HCDO as a favorable aspect to create the image of an every-man’s senator rather than an apathetic politician.
“I wanted to take this approach because I am not your typical politician who will send you a piece of campaign literature every few years, hoping to get your vote, and then not contact you again until the next election,” he wrote. “I am not part of the Democratic machine…I am not a favorite of the county politicians.”
He also extended the same opportunity that he gives to current constituents: He shared how to contact him via phone, e-mail, and letter, and even said he would open an office in the city open five days a week with evening hours.
The final decision
For about a month, the 10-member commission dedicated to redrawing the map was equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, until the two sides declared an impasse. In early March, Alan Rosenthal was brought in as the 11th, tiebreaking vote. Rosenthal, who is the chair of the Legislature ethics committee and is reputedly the foremost expert on state legislatures in the nation, was recommended by both parties.
Rosenthal’s vote will be the determining vote for which map will be submitted by the April 3 deadline.
Deanna Cullen can be reached at dcullen@hudsonreporter.com.