SULLIVAN COUNTY –– At the beginning of the current redistricting process, legislators directed Dave Heller of Main Street Communications (who they contracted with to make three new map-based proposals) to not have contact with legislators while creating the maps. Instead, he was to communicate with County Manager Josh Potosek.

Now that the three map-based redistricting options have been released, some legislators are questioning whether or not that occurred, leading to a tense discussion at the end of Thursday’s Planning, Community Development, Real Property, Capital Planning and Budgeting Committee meeting.

Minority Leader and District 8 Legislator Ira Steingart said he’d like for County Attorney Michael McGuire to ask for an affidavit from Heller to see who from the County he had been in contact with, aside from when he appeared at a public meeting, as well as a discussion between him and legislators in an executive session.

“Some of the rules that we discussed having, not splitting up towns and villages, seems to be the case in some districts, but not in others,” said Steingart. “… I realize I may not be happy [with the maps] in the end, but I want to make sure after that meeting, that he didn't get direction from either staff or the legislators to come up with those three options, because it’s not what he said he was going to do.”

Steingart later added that he wasn’t accusing anyone, to which Legislative Chairman Rob Doherty responded, “Asking for an affidavit seems a little accusatory.”

There was also a desire from some legislators to learn more about Heller’s rationale in making the new maps.

Doherty said they could invite Heller back so he could go through each district on each map and explain why he made them that way, but noted that Heller could say no.

Steingart mentioned that if Heller agreed to come back and speak with them, that input may help him come up with another map that they’re all happy with, adding that he didn’t mind spending money for additional maps, since the  new districts will be in place for the next decade.

“I can tell you voting on the maps will be on Executive [Committee] and will be on Full Board [on July 21], so this might all be moved by then,” said Doherty.

“So basically you’re saying we are not going to have a choice?” Steingart asked.

Of the vote being in July, Doherty said, “We’ve been saying that now for four months.”

Steingart then asked Doherty directly, “Have you had any contact with him [Heller] … Did you direct any staff to do it?”

To both questions, Doherty answered no, while adding, “I’ll go anywhere you want. You want to make up a map for me? ... It doesn’t matter. As long as I have my hometown of Bethel, I will win wherever I go.”

As the Democrat reported this past spring,  Doherty had stated that following the completion of the maps, which the legislature asked be sent to them by June 17,  all three options would be put out to the public, and that they would be given a month to make any comments before the legislature voted for their choice.

On Thursday, Steingart noted that since they had until January to make a decision on the maps, it didn’t need to be on Full Board this month.

“You’re not willing to make improvements?” Steingart asked.

Doherty insisted that they would not be “tweaking” the maps.

“This is what the professional mapmaker says,” Doherty said of three map-based proposals.

“Well you probably have your five votes to do it,” said Steingart, “but let the public see that you’re not willing to try to come up with a better solution.”

Doherty responded by saying that the redistricting process this time around is “a much better solution,” compared to 10 years ago, when legislators only made one map available to the public.

“We put all the maps out there,” said Doherty. “You can do whatever you want, you can vote on it or not vote on it.”

Tensions eventually calmed, with Legislators Nadia Rajsz, Luis Alvarez and Joe Perrello also urging their peers to take their time with this process.

“We have plenty of time to do this,” said Perrello. “Let’s not rush it. If people aren't happy with the maps and the boundaries, we’ll make it happy for everybody … We should have the public involved in it, let them come to the County and discuss their concerns. It's gonna affect us a little bit … but it's gonna affect our future also.

“So we need to really not get excited, don't push [it]  down anybody’s throat,” Perrello continued. “Just make it work.”

Alan Sorensen

During the redistricting discussion, Doherty alluded to the possibility of Majority Leader and District 9 Legislator Alan Sorensen not running for re-election in 2023.

The Democrat reached out to Sorensen yesterday, who said he has “not made a final decision yet.”