In submitted map, Sen. Richard Codey would not be put into Morris County-based district
State Sens. Joseph Vitale, left, and Barbara Buono, would be spared a primary face-off under the Democratic redistricting map.NEW BRUNSWICK — The Democrats' final offer on a state legislative redistricting plan would remove state Sen. John Girgenti's hometown of Hawthorne from the Democratic power base of Paterson, according to two sources close to the redistricting process.
That would give Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), of North Haledon, a chance at an open state senate seat, which would increase the upper house's Hispanic representation.
The sources were not authorized to speak publicly about the plans because tiebreaker Alan Rosenthal does not want the redistricting debate to play out in the press. They also said state Sens. Richard Codey (D-Essex) would remain in a district similar to his current one, while state Sens. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) would not be placed in the same district and forced into a primary.
Earlier versions of the Democrats' plans put Codey in a Morris County-based district and Buono and Vitale together, which sparked outrage within the party's liberal base.
Redistricting tiebreaker Alan Rosenthal is expected to side with either Democrats' or Republicans' map today, though the decision will not be official until tomorrow.
Previous coverage:
• 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