Bayshore Tea Party Group Submits The People’s Map

By Art Gallagher

The Bayshore Tea Party Group Redistricting Committe, Middletown, submitted what they are calling “the only truly Constitutional Map released thus far in New Jersey’s decennial foray into map making” to Dr Alan Rosenthal, PhD, the 11th and tie breaking member of the State Redistricting Commission.

In his cover letter to Rosenthal, BTPG Redistricting Committee Chairman Sean Spinello, Esq., said that the group “set out to produce a non-gerrymandered map that protects the all-inclusive and singular most important community of interest – the franchised voters of the State of New Jersey.”

Without consideration for partisanship, incumbency or socio-economics, the group’s map was constructed based upon the Constitution requirements of population equality, contiguity, compactness, and keeping districts wholly within individual counties where possible and where not possible, splitting districts into as few counties as possible.

In a statement posted on the BTPG website, Patrick Murray of Monmouth University Polling Institute said,

“Except for what appears to be an inadvertent split of Egg Harbor Township between Districts 1 and 2 (which will requiring some re-tooling) the map’s parameters are solid.  It also maintains and perhaps enhances minority representation (basically as well as the map proposed by the minority coalition!) and provides for real competition for control of the next legislature.  Of course, it is unkind to incumbents, and thus contrary to what Rosenthal has laid out as his priorities.  On the whole, a map worth adding to the discussion.

The map is unkind to incumbents.  In Monmouth County, Senators Joe Kyrillos (Middletown) and Jennifer Beck (Red Bank) are both in a new 13th district comprised of Bayshore and Two River towns.   Old Bridge is moved, along with incumbent Assemblyman Sam Thompson, from the current 13th to an all Middlesex County 19th.  Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (Little Silver) would join Assemblywoman Amy Handlin as incumbents in the lower house.

The current 11th district would remain largely intact, adding Manasquan and Oceanport, and be renamed the 12th.  Incumbents, Senator Sean Kean and Assembly members Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini would be unaffected.

The new 11th district would be comprised on Colts Neck, Farmingdale, Howell and Tinton Falls of Monmouth County and the Ocean County towns of Jackson and Lakewood.  Senator Robert Singer (Lakewood) would be the incumbent with Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (Colts Neck).  There would be a vacant Assembly seat in this district.

The town by town key of the BTPG “People’s Map” can be found here.

The Redistricting Commission is required to  release the new map on April 3.

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DuPont Considering Giving Up $90K Borough Attorney Gig To Stay On Red Bank Council

By Art Gallagher

Why would a politician/lawyer give up a $90,000 per year part time job to keep a $3200 a year part time job as a  Red Bank councilman?

That’s what Red Bank Councilman Michael Dupont says he’s considering if his colleagues on the Red Bank governing body don’t go along with his request that they change their meeting dates so that he can continue “serving” as the Middlesex County Borough of Sayreville’s borough attorney for $7,500 per month, according to Red Bank Green.  Sayreville and Red Bank have the council meetings on the same nights.

So why not ask Sayreville to change its meeting day?

“I did that,” DuPont tells redbankgreen. No go.

But he tells redbankgreenthat if the Red Bank meeting schedule remains unchanged, “I’d probably have to give up Sayreville.”

DuPont says the Sayreville gig pays a flat $7,500 per month for all legal services.

Could be he doesn’t need the money, but he tells RBG otherwise.

“I’m just trying to make a living, in addition to being a public servant,”

Couldn’t/shouldn’t Dupont have resolved this before taking the Sayreville job?  He’s been a Red Bank Councilman a long time.

Maybe it has something to do with the pension system or health benefits.

Dupont is also the treasurer of the NJ Turnpike Authority.

Sayreville is home to Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Chairman of the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.  Wisniewski is also chairman of the NJ Democratic Party and Co-Chair of the Legislative Redistricting Commission.

Lot’s of questions and dots to connect. Especially if Dupont runs for Senate or Assembly as has been rumored.

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The Redistricting Shuffle

InTheLobby has a terrific piece about state legislative and congressional  redistricting.

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