Assemblyman: New District, But Same Feel for Bridgewater

Legislative and party leaders throughout New Jersey are scrambling to understand a new political landscape.

But District 23 Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) said Bridgewater's switch to the 23rd district from the 16th makes a lot of sense.

“They are a very Republican section and we’re very Republican out here,” he said. “We share common interest, and I believe our issues are the same. I believe it is just about focusing and serving a new constituency.”

The new state map, which was unveiled Sunday, moves Bridgewater into the 23rd district with Alexandria Township, Alpha Boro, Bedminster, Bethlehem, Bloomsbury, Bound Brook, Califon, Clinton, Franklin, Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Greenwich, Hackettstown, Hampton, Harmony, High Bridge, Holland, Kingwood, Lebanon Boro, Lebanon Township, Lopatcong Township, Mansfield, Milford, Peapack and Gladstone, Phillipsburg, Pohatcong, Raritan, South Bound Brook, Tewksbury, Union Township, Washington Township and Washington Borough.

DiMaio, who is currently serving his first full term and has been in the legislature since March 2009, said he will work just as hard for the residents of Bridgewater as he does for the other municipalities, with a strong focus on basic core principles.

“We have to make sure we are not wasting tax dollars, I think we share that across the district,” he said. “Common interests will be fiscal conservatism and making sure the government is smart and learn.”

With the inclusion of new municipalities in his district, DiMaio said he understands he has things to learn about the communities, including flooding in Bound Brook.

“We will have to learn more about that as time goes on,” he said.

But with the changes, DiMaio said, he will be focused on taking advantage of the new map, and trying in the coming months to get a new majority in the legislature. These are all goals he currently has, he said, and they will not falter with the changes.

Before the assembly lines were changed, DiMaio said, the district covered 46 towns and 755 square miles. Now, he said, the district is set to include only 33 municipalities.

“Local issues in general, the ebb and flow,” he said. “We were very sprawling before, so if we could handle all those different issues and problems, we certainly will be able to adapt to whatever local issues affect Somerset County.”

Overall, DiMaio said, he will also be particularly sensitive to the issues of local government because he spent so many years on the Hackettstown council and as mayor of that town.

“I have spent a lot of time in their shoes, and I understand what they go through,” he said.

District Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Franklin) said he is familiar with much of Somerset County, particularly around the Bridgewater area, having swam at the YMCA on Garretson Road in the past, as well as working in Somerville.

“I have a lot of connections to Somerset County from my work,” he said. “I know quite a bit about the area, but in a different way than in the political sense.”

Among other issues, Peterson said, he understands the flooding concerns that are rampant throughout the county, particularly in Bound Brook and other areas.

“We have flooding here along the Delaware River, and I’m very aware of that,” he said. “I have watched with great interest the problems in Bound Brook and I know Congressman Leonard Lance is very involved in that.”

“We are very aware of the devastating impacts of flooding, and we understand the work being done,” he added.

Prior to the changes, Peterson said, the district lines circled Warren and Hunterdon counties, so the area was already large before taking on parts of Somerset County.

“Geographically, it was large at the time, and I don’t know size wise now,” he said. “I live right off Route 78 and there is Route 22, which runs right down the middle of the district, so getting around the district for me will be easy and I will be able to get to different locations easily.”

Peterson said he is looking forward to working within all three counties.

“I am looking forward to getting to know everyone, and it’s going to be a good district,” he said, adding that does what he can to stay connected to all constituents through mail, email and phone calls. “I look forward to representing people in Somerset County, and I’ll do my best for them.”

District 16 Assemblywoman Denise Coyle (R-Bernards), a former Somerset County freeholder who has served as the 16th district's assemblywoman since 2008, said she believes the recarving of Somerset County from three assembly districts into six "harms Somerset County significantly."

However, Somerset County Democrat Chairwoman Peggy Schaffer said her party is already benefiting from the redistricting with a larger pool of candidates from the shift of the 16th district.

"We're very excited about it," she said. "The 16th district now leans toward the Democrats. This changes the whole landscape. We could never be competitive in this district. Now, all of a sudden, we now have more candidates than we know what to do with."

Somerset County has 300,000 residents, while other counties with four or five times greater population would have fewer districts under the new plan, Coyle said. "I wonder as to the legality," Coyle said.

She noted the state's Republican leaders are exploring options after Rutgers public policy professor Alan Rosenthal chose the Democrats' plan for redistricting to reflect a loss in population posted in the 2010 census.

The redistricting has also brought some uncertainty. For Coyle, who has served the 16th district since 2008, her hometown of Bernards is now in the 21st district.

While Coyle expects to have a better idea of her plans by the end of the week, she's certain she will seek another term.

"I am absolutely a candidate for assembly," she said.

Linda Sadlouskos contributed to this story.