Democrats will present first after Republicans won a coin toss
NEW BRUNSWICK — Both parties’ redistricting teams are going to make closing arguments to tiebreaker Alan Rosenthal at the Heldrich Hotel today on why he should choose their respective proposals.
The GOP won a coin toss this morning to pick when they would present, according to Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), leader of their redistricting team. Webber chose to present after Democrats.
Gov. Chris Christie is currently at the Heldrich with the Republican team – the third time he’s showed up to the Heldrich since Sunday.
Christie has said little publicly on the redistricting process, and didn’t break that trend today.
“Heck no, you’re not going to get anything out of me,” he said while entering the hotel’s restaurant to have breakfast with political adviser Bill Palatucci, campaign strategist Mike DuHaime, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union), Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and Republican redistricting counsel Benjamin Ginsburg
The state's second most powerful elected official, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), is also at the hotel, where he has been all week.
The stakes are high, as the new legislative district map will influence which party controls the Legislature for the next decade. Sometime after the sides present their closing arguments and critique each others’ maps this morning, Rosenthal is expected indicate which side he will cast his vote with tomorrow at noon in Trenton.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. legislative redistricting commission expected to choose map for next decade
• Republicans, Democrats to present N.J. legislative redistricting maps to tiebreaker today
• N.J. minority groups say they're unhappy with legislative redistricting process
• Gov. Christie arrives in New Brunswick for N.J. redistricting commission meetings
• Deadline approaches to complete redrawn N.J. legislative map
• Some Democratic state senators push back against party's redistricting plan
• Proposed Democratic redistricting map pits party members against each other, Sen. Codey against GOP
• Early N.J. legislative redistricting plans by Republicans, Democrats widely diverge
• Tiebreaking member of N.J. commission defends politics of redistricting process
• Rutgers professor appointed to redistricting commission downplays newfound power