NEWARK — Supporters of state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) turned out at tonight’s legislative redistricing commission hearing in Newark. The supporters suggested the commission, which has members allied with Codey’s political rivals, may be looking to move the senator’s hometown of Roseland outside of the legislative district. Donna Jackson, a community activist who lives in the small section of...
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State Senator Richard Codey during the NCAA mens basketball game between Rutgers and Fairleigh Dickenson at the Rutgers Athletic Center in this December 2010 file photo.NEWARK — Supporters of state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) turned out at tonight’s legislative redistricing commission hearing in Newark.
The supporters suggested the commission, which has members allied with Codey’s political rivals, may be looking to move the senator’s hometown of Roseland outside of the legislative district.
Donna Jackson, a community activist who lives in the small section of Newark that Codey represents, said the bipartisan commission got its “marching orders” from Essex County power brokers.
“You want to make hell in Essex County. I’m not going to sit back and allow that. I know this is a done deal because the godfather already told you guys,” she said.
“You ain’t moving Codey,” she added.
Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr., Livingston Mayor Rufino “Rudy” Fernandez, Maplewood Mayor Victor DeLuca and former Caldwell Mayor Susan Gartland were among those who also testified against changing Codey’s legislative district.
Codey, a former governor, was toppled as senate president by Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) in 2009. He headed up the Democrats’ redistricting team in 2001, when they outmaneuvered Republicans and laid the groundwork to take control of both houses of the Legislature.
Whatever happens to Codey’s district, it’s unlikely it will still contain Jackson’s neighborhood. Because of a federal court decision in North Carolina, Democrats have conceded that they can’t justify splitting Newark into more than two legislative districts again. Codey’s district, which includes a small sliver of the city, will likely lose it.
The redistricting commission has until April to redraw the state's 40 legislative districts according to Census data released last week.
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