Democrats criticize direct role in map meeting
NEW BRUNSWICK— Gov. Chris Christie, who has begun a vocal push for Republicans to take control of the Legislature, made a surprise appearance Sunday at the hotel where a commission was holding a marathon session to draw a new legislative district map.
Christie, whose chances at getting a Republican-dominated Legislature to help him push his agenda could rest on how new legislative boundaries are drawn, showed up at the Heldrich in New Brunswick and participated in meetings with the man who will ultimately decide how the map looks: Rutgers University professor Alan Rosenthal.
The presence of the head of the executive branch in the process raised eyebrows among Democrats in the hotel and left some Republicans at times refusing to admit the governor was in the building even though his security detail was standing outside the door.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), the leader of the Democrats’ redistricting team and the party’s state chairman, said it was inappropriate for Christie to take part in negotiations.
“Under our constitution, it’s a legislative function, not an executive function. The executive branch has to implement the map,” he said, noting the attorney general has to defend the map from lawsuits. “It raises the question about the ability of the executive branch to impartially carry out its duties.”
The visit came during an all day flurry of activity, as both sides met in closed-door meetings with just one week before the new map is due. Rosenthal, the tie-breaking member appointed after Republicans and Democrats declared they were at an impasse, met with both sides, shuttling in and out of closed-door meetings. He declined to comment.
Republicans disbanded at about 7 p.m. Christie bolted from the room through a side door after having his security detail move his SUV to a side entrance. He did not respond to multiple questions from reporters about why he had chosen to participate in meetings Sunday.
Most Republican commissioners and lawmakers involved in the process dismissed questions about Christie being a part of the process.
“It’s a free country and the governor can walk about and spend his Sunday as he chooses,” Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) said.
Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), leader of the Republicans’ redistricting team, said he saw no issues with the head of the executive branch getting involved. “He’s the head of the party,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union), refused to comment as he left the hotel.
There have been signals that Christie has been keeping a close eye on redistricting. But his presence Sunday showed he is more directly involved in the once-in-a-decade process than any governor in recent memory.
Leon Sokol, who served as the Democrats’ redistricting counsel three times from 1981 to 2001, said he’s never seen a governor directly take part.
“They’ve always taken a hands-off position and left it to the legislative leadership to develop their strategy,” he said. “I’m pretty confident in saying that in the 30 years I was involved, the governor was not involved.”
In February, Christie said the current legislative district map, which favors Democrats, is “unfair and unconstitutional” and that he had “confidence in the five (Republican) people who are on the redistricting commission.”
Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray said Republicans appeared to be bringing out “their biggest gun” to impress Rosenthal.
“When you’re dealing with the 11th member you’re dealing with a human being,” he said. “Alan Rosenthal has been around the block a few times, so I don’t know how impressed he is speaking with governors, but you use it anyway.”
The initial redistricting proposals, outlined in The Star-Ledger last week, showed wide differences between the parties. Republicans favored a map that made dramatic changes and would pit several key Democratic senators against one another. Democrats made significant changes to account for population shifts, but did less to upset the electoral landscape.
Murray said the Democrats’ proposals more closely match the standards Rosenthal has laid down than the Republicans’ plan.
“I think this is unusual. If you were only winning on the merits, then there probably would be no need to bring in the governor,” he said. “Rosenthal is listening to all sides of this. But he’s looking for the parties to show they can at least work together to reach some sort of compromise.”
Each of the three groups have reserved a separate conference room in the hotel. The Republicans are on one side, in a room with maps covering the walls, with Democrats on the opposite side of the hotel and Rosenthal and his team in the middle.
By Matt Friedman and Ginger Gibson/The Star-Ledger