TRENTON — Alan Rosenthal, the tiebreaking member of the commission charged with redrawing the state’s 40 legislative districts, didn’t say much today in his first public meeting with the panel. But this much he made clear: politics isn’t a bad thing. The Rutgers professor — considered a top expert on state Legislatures — defended the politically-charged way New Jersey...
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Alan Rosenthal, a Rutgers professor, is the newest member of the state legislative redistricting commission.TRENTON — Alan Rosenthal, the tiebreaking member of the commission charged with redrawing the state’s 40 legislative districts, didn’t say much today in his first public meeting with the panel. But this much he made clear: politics isn’t a bad thing.
The Rutgers professor — considered a top expert on state Legislatures — defended the politically-charged way New Jersey redraws its 40 legislative districts, through a commission of five Democrats, five Republicans, and one tiebreaker.
"This may come as a big surprise: Republicans seem to want a map that advantages Republicans and Democrats seem to want a map that advantages Democrats," Rosenthal said. "But we have in the United States and New Jersey a competitive two-party system. And it’s understandable that the two parties compete in the processes of redistricting and reapportionment."
Some critics and academics have suggested New Jersey could find a better method to redraw its legislative districts so politicians don’t draw districts that protect incumbents or their political party. A report commissioned by the Eagleton Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rutgers University — which Rosenthal used to chair — criticized the state’s process for the emphasis it puts on partisan politics and its lack of transparency.
Rosenthal said politics should be part of the process: "Dealing with disagreement is what representative democracy is all about and that’s the challenge for this commission," he said.
Rosenthal did not offer any clues as to which party’s arguments he has so far found more convincing. But he did say said he would not accept a map that had fewer districts in which candidates from either party have a reasonable chance at winning.
In testimony before the committee, Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray asked Rosenthal to consider making creating competitive districts a higher priority, noting that he created his own map that would have 11 competitive districts.
"I think a competitive map is a fair map in every sense of that word," he said.
