TRENTON — They call it "The People’s Map." The Bayshore Tea Party on Friday submitted its own proposal for what the state’s 40 legislative districts should look like. Sean J. Spinello, an attorney and tea party activist who drew the map, said he used only the redistricting principles in the state Constitution without any "gerrymandering" — drawing district boundaries...
TRENTON — They call it "The People’s Map."
The Bayshore Tea Party on Friday submitted its own proposal for what the state’s 40 legislative districts should look like.
Sean J. Spinello, an attorney and tea party activist who drew the map, said he used only the redistricting principles in the state Constitution without any "gerrymandering" — drawing district boundaries to affect political, or other, outcomes.
The hotly contested redistricting process occurs once every 10 years, and how districts are drawn can influence which party controls the state Legislature.
On Wednesday, a coalition of black, Hispanic and Asian-American groups submitted its own map proposal in an attempt to boost minority membership in the Legislature. The new map is due next Sunday.
The tea party’s map would reduce the number of times counties are split, adhering to a provision of the state Constitution largely ignored over the years. Spinello said it keep districts as compact as possible, roughly equal in population and in all one piece — all mandates of the state Constitution.
The map does not take incumbent protection into consideration and it shows. Powerful Democrats and Republicans alike would be thrown into districts together. To name a few:
• Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and state Sen. Fred Madden (D-Gloucester);
• Sens. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris), Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) and Richard Codey (D-Essex);
• State Sens. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) and Brian Stack (D-Hudson)
Rosenthal and the Democratic and Republican leaders of the redistricting team could not be reached for comment.
Previous coverage:
• Tea party group submits proposed N.J. legislative redistricting map to commission
• N.J. redistricting commission struggles over redrawing legislative districts
• Rutgers professor appointed to redistricting commission downplays newfound power
• Rutgers professor to likely cast deciding vote in redrawing N.J. legislative districts
• Rutgers professor is appointed as tie-breaking 11th member on N.J. redistricting commission
• N.J. redistricting commission to request tie-breaking 11th member
• N.J. redistricting panel member refuses to attend public meetings until he has an official role
• With release of census data, N.J. Legislature has 60 days to come up with redistricting map
• N.J. Democrats ask Republicans to disclose donors to organization funding redistricting efforts
• N.J. redistricting could shift legislative seat toward southern part of state
• N.J. legislative redistricting commission starts process that will redraw congressional lines
• N.J. Democrats, Republicans agree on Rutgers professor as 11th member of redistricting commission