Redrawing the Steuben County legislative district lines is back on the table, with mixed reactions to a tentative plan to add the towns of Addison and Tuscarora to the town of Erwin’s legislative district.
The plan, approved recently by the county Legislature’s Administration Committee, also moves residents in the village of North Hornell into the Hornell City legislative district, which is represented by two legislators. The town of Jasper would move into District 9 with Canisteo and Cameron, and the town of Thurston would become part of District 8 with Wayne, Bradford and Campbell, according to the tentative plan, which must be approved by the county Legislature and approved by voters next year.
Committee members say the plan comes closest to bringing the entire county Legislature back closer to a “one-man-one-vote” footing. Legislators’ votes are now “weighted” by the number of people in each district, to account for differences in population.
The proposal also would give the fast-developing Erwin district two legislators.
But some question whether the most dramatically changed new Erwin district would benefit the rural interests in Addison and Tuscarora.
Addison’s top officials said they support the idea, saying Erwin’s growth benefits the village and town.
Village of Addison Mayor Ray Walch said he approached county officials a few months ago when the idea of redistricting was first raised, and suggested the village be added to Erwin’s district.
“Ten percent of our residents work for Corning Inc.,” he said. “They have plants here.”
Eva Sue Cunningham, Town of Addison supervisor, said moving Addison into the Erwin district would be positive.
“I can see us being a part of Erwin,” she said. “I think it would be good for us.”
But former county legislator and Town of Tuscarora Supervisor Robert Nichols is less sure about the move, since the two towns have such a large agricultural base.
Nichols questioned whether a legislator representing the highly rural interests of the area could be elected in the new largely suburban-industrial district. “It’s like two different cultures, really,” Nichols said.
That may be the key question for the district. Addison and Tuscarora combined have a population of roughly 4,100, while Erwin has more than 8,000 residents.
But both Walch and Cunningham are confident a candidate from their area would win enough votes in Erwin to become at least one of the two legislators from the new district.
Walch, who ran for the county board last year, would not comment on whether he would be a candidate in the next few years. But Cunningham said she plans on being elected in the future to the county Legislature and is confident she would have support in Erwin.
The redistricting plan would move Addison and Tuscarora’s other district partner, the Town of Lindley, into District 12 with the towns of Hornby, Caton and Corning.
The town of Erwin’s growth and a drop in the City of Hornell’s population is what led the county committee to consider redrawing legislative lines.
The new plan also would move residents in the village of North Hornell into the Hornell City legislative district, now represented by two legislators.
Both North Hornell Village Mayor John Falci and Hornell City Mayor Shawn Hogan say the move would be positive.
Falci said the village would benefit from representation from three legislators, since his district’s current legislator, Brian Schu, R-Hornellsville, would keep the neighboring Hornellsville legislative seat.
Hogan said the plan makes sense, with the city and village sharing a “commonality of interest.”
Administration Committee Chairman Pat McAllister, R-Wayland said he expects the new plan will result in a discussion, but added any plan was likely to have its critics.
Earlier this year, the committee proposed moving the Village of Painted Post into the neighboring Town of Corning seat. But after a firestorm of protest, the committee tabled the idea.
McAllister said the new plan is likely to be debated next on the legislative floor. Anyone wishing to raise objections at the committee level will need to be approved by the county administrator and put on the agenda, he said.
“We looked at the options, a lot of options,” McAllister said. “The committee has picked the one it thinks is best. But I’m sure it will be debated a lot more.”
A vote on the redistricting plan is expected to come before the county Legislature next spring. It would be then put on the November ballot for a vote by Steuben residents. Any change in the districts would likely occur at least two years later, during the following county election cycle.
Redrawing the Steuben County legislative district lines is back on the table, with mixed reactions to a tentative plan to add the towns of Addison and Tuscarora to the town of Erwin’s legislative district.
The plan, approved recently by the county Legislature’s Administration Committee, also moves residents in the village of North Hornell into the Hornell City legislative district, which is represented by two legislators. The town of Jasper would move into District 9 with Canisteo and Cameron, and the town of Thurston would become part of District 8 with Wayne, Bradford and Campbell, according to the tentative plan, which must be approved by the county Legislature and approved by voters next year.
Committee members say the plan comes closest to bringing the entire county Legislature back closer to a “one-man-one-vote” footing. Legislators’ votes are now “weighted” by the number of people in each district, to account for differences in population.
The proposal also would give the fast-developing Erwin district two legislators.
But some question whether the most dramatically changed new Erwin district would benefit the rural interests in Addison and Tuscarora.
Addison’s top officials said they support the idea, saying Erwin’s growth benefits the village and town.
Village of Addison Mayor Ray Walch said he approached county officials a few months ago when the idea of redistricting was first raised, and suggested the village be added to Erwin’s district.
“Ten percent of our residents work for Corning Inc.,” he said. “They have plants here.”
Eva Sue Cunningham, Town of Addison supervisor, said moving Addison into the Erwin district would be positive.
“I can see us being a part of Erwin,” she said. “I think it would be good for us.”
But former county legislator and Town of Tuscarora Supervisor Robert Nichols is less sure about the move, since the two towns have such a large agricultural base.
Nichols questioned whether a legislator representing the highly rural interests of the area could be elected in the new largely suburban-industrial district. “It’s like two different cultures, really,” Nichols said.
That may be the key question for the district. Addison and Tuscarora combined have a population of roughly 4,100, while Erwin has more than 8,000 residents.
But both Walch and Cunningham are confident a candidate from their area would win enough votes in Erwin to become at least one of the two legislators from the new district.
Walch, who ran for the county board last year, would not comment on whether he would be a candidate in the next few years. But Cunningham said she plans on being elected in the future to the county Legislature and is confident she would have support in Erwin.
The redistricting plan would move Addison and Tuscarora’s other district partner, the Town of Lindley, into District 12 with the towns of Hornby, Caton and Corning.
The town of Erwin’s growth and a drop in the City of Hornell’s population is what led the county committee to consider redrawing legislative lines.
The new plan also would move residents in the village of North Hornell into the Hornell City legislative district, now represented by two legislators.
Both North Hornell Village Mayor John Falci and Hornell City Mayor Shawn Hogan say the move would be positive.
Falci said the village would benefit from representation from three legislators, since his district’s current legislator, Brian Schu, R-Hornellsville, would keep the neighboring Hornellsville legislative seat.
Hogan said the plan makes sense, with the city and village sharing a “commonality of interest.”
Administration Committee Chairman Pat McAllister, R-Wayland said he expects the new plan will result in a discussion, but added any plan was likely to have its critics.
Earlier this year, the committee proposed moving the Village of Painted Post into the neighboring Town of Corning seat. But after a firestorm of protest, the committee tabled the idea.
McAllister said the new plan is likely to be debated next on the legislative floor. Anyone wishing to raise objections at the committee level will need to be approved by the county administrator and put on the agenda, he said.
“We looked at the options, a lot of options,” McAllister said. “The committee has picked the one it thinks is best. But I’m sure it will be debated a lot more.”
A vote on the redistricting plan is expected to come before the county Legislature next spring. It would be then put on the November ballot for a vote by Steuben residents. Any change in the districts would likely occur at least two years later, during the following county election cycle.
