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Writer's pictureJess Marciano

Impossible Districts

Democratic Rural Conference Statement on New IRC-proposed

Congressional Districts

As set out in the Constitution of New York State, new congressional districts should not be drawn to divide communities of interest, to prioritize the security of incumbents, or to concentrate voters of each party into exclusive enclaves. Unfortunately, the lines adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission on February 15 have the effect of doing exactly those things in most districts.

These proposed lines will result once again in huge, uncompetitive congressional districts across much of upstate that promote extremism and leave members of the smaller party with representatives completely unsympathetic to their concerns. Even those of the majority party end up represented by someone who may have to travel 4 hours or more just to visit their communities, as exclusively rural districts must cover 14 and 15 counties to amass enough population. Regrettably, counties are often fragmented into separate districts, as well.

The proposed districts seem designed to avoid competitive elections, which

does a disservice to us all. We, the Officers and Board Members of the

Democratic Rural Conference of New York State, urge the Legislature to

reject the maps submitted by the Independent Redistricting Commission.

The Democratic Rural Conference of New York State represents

Democrats in 47 of New York’s 62 counties, those with populations smaller than 250,000 people.


Officers Board Members

Judith Hunter

Chair


Margaret Bartley

Essex County


Livingston County

Keith Batman


Timothy Perfetti

Cayuga County


Executive Vice Chair

Cortland County


Jeanne Crane

Orleans County


John Hurley

Treasurer

Ontario County


Kimberly Davis

Clinton County


William Thickstun

Secretary

Oneida County


William Hughes

Columbia County


James Mills

Putnam County


Darlene Baker

Parliamentarian

Oswego County


Michael Plitt

Genesee County


Ronald McDougal

Northern Vice Chair

St. Lawrence County


Thomas Schimmerling

Delaware County


Michael Monescalchi.

Catskill/Hudson Vice Chair

Rensselaer County


Ted Young

Seneca County


Liz Moran

Central Vice Chair

Madison County


Cynthia Appleton

Western Vice Chair

Wyoming County

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