Op Ed : Gerrymandering Diminishes Ability Of Voters To Hold Elected Officials Accountable

The Suffolk County 5^th Legislative District is Under Attack By Partisan Gerrymandering

Redistricting affects political power, what issues policy and lawmakers prioritize, and whether issues affecting our diverse communities are represented, or excluded.   When those responsible for drawing district maps do so to favor one political party, the potential for fair representation suffers.  We must take action to keep our communities in Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station and Terryville together, as they are now.

The 5^th Suffolk County Legislative District is under attack by those seeking to divide the population of these communities over several county districts so that our influence in County matters is significantly reduced, our ability to elect our preferred candidate is diminished, and the ability of voters to hold an elected official accountable is undermined.   This attack would be of no surprise to those fighting off current partisan attempts to make significant changes to the existing boundaries of Town of Brookhaven Council Districts 1 and 2, which if adopted would crack off large chunks of Port Jefferson Station from Terryville, and cut Mount Sinai in half – severing communities of interest, and diminishing voter influence.   With a deadline approaching this week, it is not likely that the Brookhaven Redistricting Committee will have a map that accurately reflects changes in population, communities of interest, and racial diversity.         

The Suffolk County 8 Member Reapportionment Commission is currently in a deadlock over two competing map proposals, and has until Sept. 30^th to adopt a map to submit to the Suffolk County Legislature for approval.  The Democratic map proposal for the 5^th Legislative District, currently represented by Legis. Kara Hahn, (D-East Setauket - term limited in 2023) keeps our communities of interest in Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station, and Terryville together.  The Republican proposal literally tears apart the 5^th Legislative district as we know it, separating it into three different County legislative districts.  Stony Brook and western Setauket, now in the 5^th Legislative District would be shifted to the 13^th District, represented by Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), the southern portion of the district would be shifted to the 4^th District represented by Legis. Nick Caracappa (R-Selden), and the eastern portion of the district including portions of Port Jefferson and Port Jefferson Station would shift into the 6^th District which extends to Wading River, and is currently represented by Sarah Anker, (D-Mt. Sinai) who is also term limited in 2023.  Note that the exact street level dividing lines on the publicly accessible maps are unclear. 

Our communities in the current 5^th Legislative District — Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station, and Terryville share common historic, economic, social, policy, legislative, scientific, educational, and environmental values and interests and must continue to have single county legislative district effective and fair representation.  Everyone loses when communities of interest are cracked by gerrymandering simply to shift the balance of political power.  There is still an opportunity to stand up and fight to keep our communities together at public hearings scheduled for Sept. 13^th at 6PM in Hauppauge at the Legislature or on Sept. 15 at 6PM in Riverhead at the Legislature.  To confirm meeting dates and for more information go to the Suffolk County Legislature’s website at https://www.scnylegislature.us/1400/Reapportionment-Commission. 

Laura A. Ahearn, Esq., LMSW

Port Jefferson

(Laura A. Ahern was a candidate for NYS Senate in 2020)