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Note: This story has been changed to more accurately reflect the comments of Pound Ridge Democratic Party Chair Roslyn Stone-Pollock.
POUND RIDGE, N.Y. Pound Ridge political party leaders on both sides of the aisle are not happy with several redistricting proposals that would move the town from Rep. Nan Hayworths district into the more southern district of Rep. Nita Lowey.
The move would be awful for Pound Ridge, said Pound Ridge GOP Committee Chair Joseph Zaino. Were not a big town, but in the 19th district (Hayworths current district), we are just one of many small towns. We have more in common with those towns and how theyre represented. This move would put us in a district with cities like Yonkers, Rye and White Plains, where we will be completely ignored. No one will come up here and talk to us because there are no votes. Nobody will care about us, Republican or Democrat. Its a lousy deal.
Zaino said he has spoken with Republican state senators Dean Skelos and Greg Ball and expressed his distaste for the move.
Pound Ridge Democratic Chair Rosyln Stone-Pollock said that, while she admired Lowey and doesn't see eye-to-eye with Hayworth, she feels the move would ultimately not be a good one for Pound Ridge.
"Joe Zaino and I are very much on the same page and believe that remaining in the same district would be in the best interests of Pound Ridge," she said. "I completely agree with Joe's points about it being in our best interests to be grouped together with smaller towns rather than large municipalities. However, there is a there is a benefit to Pound Ridge Democrats being represented by Nita Lowey - a benefit, obviously, Pound Ridge Republicans would not enjoy."
Pollock-Stone said she believed that Hayworth was out of touch with the values of the district and that Democrats were looking forward to the fall election to "shine a light on her record."
"We would be delighted to be represented by a congresswoman like Nita Lowey who strongly supports issues that are critical to us," Stone-Pollock said. "Personally, I have spoken on health care panels with Congresswoman Lowey for some time and will work hard to get her re-elected."
Both the Republicans and Democrats have offered redistricting proposals. Zaino said they both call for Pound Ridge moving into Loweys 18th district, which would be renamed the 17th district. Hayworths 19th district would be renamed the 18th.
Under the Democratic plan, Lowey retains North Castle, New Castle, Mt. Pleasant and Ossining. She would add Cortlandt, Peekskill, Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge, Lewisboro and most of Yorktown. Under the GOP plan, she would retain North Castle, New Castle, Mt. Pleasant, Ossining and pick up Cortlandt, Peekskill, Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge and most of Yorktown.
For Hayworth, the Democratic plan calls for her to retain Somers, North Salem, Bedford and portion of Yorktown. Under the Republican plan, she retains Somers, North Salem, Bedford, Lewisboro and part of Yorktown.
Stone-Pollock said U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann will review the plans on Monday. The deadline is March 10 for new district lines.
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