FORESTBURGH — Some Sullivan County residents will be represented by a different county legislator thanks to planned redistricting due to population change, County Legislator Kathy LaBuda (District 2) told the Forestburgh Town Board last Thursday.

While the census was done in 2010, the numbers have recently been processed and a consultant has re-drawn the legislative district lines.

LaBuda said the re-redistricting is necessary since “by law every legislator must represent the same amount of constituents.”

The population growth in Mamakating and Lumberland, she explained, is due to a shorter commute time to Manhattan.

“Jonathan Rouis is the legislator from that district,” she noted. “He had too many constituents so I had to pick up some of Jonathan's constituents. They had to cut [the Town of] Highland in half so I have the same amount of constituents as the other legislators.”

LaBuda now represents all of Highland, but will lose half of it after re-districting.

LaBuda emphasized that the redistricting was done by a consulting firm, allaying the claim by some who called it gerrymandering, (manipulating the boundaries so as to favor one party.)

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said LaBuda. “So when people call it gerrymandering, that is absolutely false. The Legislator didn't create the map, the consultant did and then we voted on it.”

While Forestburgh will not be affected, she wanted to make her constituents aware of the changes.

LaBuda went on to give a history lesson, noting that for most of its history the county was ruled by a Board of Supervisors until voters approved a charter change and brought the legislature to power in 1996.

She explained that the old governing body favored the larger townships under a weighted-voting system. LaBuda said that this system resulted in wrong decisions being made in siting the county community college and hospital.

“When the college was located… it is in the worst spot - Loch Sheldrake.

She continued, “The hospital should be in Thompson, because that's the county seat. If you put Harris Hospital in Thompson, you would have doctors and nurses who would live there. Some people go to Middletown. It's hard for it (Harris Hospital) to sustain itself, because it's off the beaten path - in my opinion.”

Supervisor William Sipos said the next census will most probably see re-redistricting in Forestburgh due to the development of the 500-home Lost Lake Resort. Residents there will enjoy amenities such as a golf course, fitness center, spa, hiking and fishing.

LaBuda pointed out that if Lost Lake is a second-home for some residents they may not be registered to vote in Forestburgh. Thus, they will not fall under the guidelines of re-redistricting.