For Bloomingdale, Leaving 26th District Means Leaving Relationships With Legislators Behind

As Bloomingdale moves to the 39th legislative district—grouping it with Passaic and Bergen County towns in the state legislature—local leaders say they're disappointed.

Political lines are shifting in New Jersey. The commission responsible for drawing the state's legislative districts in the aftermath of the 2010 census has made its decision—and approved a legislative map favored by Democrats overall.

Butler and Kinnelon stay in the 26th legislative district, mostly made of Morris County towns and currently served by state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Jay Webber—though the shape of that district has changed overall. But Bloomingdale finds itself with new political peers, in a district currently represented by state Sen. Gerald Cardinale, Assemblyman Robert Schroeder and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk. The incumbents in both districts are all Republicans.

(Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see full breakdowns of the new 26th and 39th District lineups.)

The redistricting process involved a commission of five Democrats and five Republicans, the latter with the political support of Gov. Chris Christie. Each side drew its own map for the state, and a tiebreaker vote was cast over the weekend by a non-partisan, judge-appointed commission member, Rutgers public policy professor Alan Rosenthal.

The professor sided with the Democrats, saying their map was less disruptive to the state.

"Since I've been a leader, I guess for the last four years, it's been nice working with the people from the 26th District. It seems like you just get to know them and get to interact with them, and now we're thrown into another district," said Ron Caputo, Bloomingdale's municipal chairman for the Republican county committee.  "I do understand the process and I don't agree with it. We've worked with Sen. Pennacchio and Assmblymen Decroce and Webber now for five years. I find them extremely compatible with our needs here in Bloomingdale and they've done a great service here with us. I'm sure that the new people will also, but its something I'm new to."

Bloomingdale Mayor Jon Dunleavy, a Democrat, said while there were aspects of the shift he doesn't like "the borough needs to accept the change and work with our new state senator and Assembly representatives. "

"What is discouraging is that you build strong relationships with your current legislation and now must start that relationship building all over," he said. "Our current senator and assemblymen know our borough and have been good to our town. I am confident though that I will build the same relationship with our new district leaders."

And Dunleavy said he doesn't feel Bloomingdale has much in common with some of the larger Bergen County towns now paired with his community. But that concern aside, "I will work hard to build a strong relationship with Sen. Cardinale, Assemblyman Schroeder and Assemblywoman Vandervalk to make sure Bloomingdale has a voice in our state government," he said.

The 39th District sees several changes in addition to Bloomingdale's entrance. It loses Allendale, Alpine,, Cresskill, Ho-Ho-Kus, New Milford,Northvale, Oradell, River Edge, Rockleigh and Waldwick. It picks up Mahwah, Oakland, Ringwood and Wanasque.

For Kinnelon and Butler, the changes are less drastic. They remain under their current representation, but the legislative neighborhood has changed. The 26th District, in addition to losing Bloomingdale, lost Chatham borough, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes and Riverdale. It picked up Jefferson, Rockaway Township, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell.

Larry Casha, Kinnelon's municipal chair for the Morris County Republican Committee, was plainspoken about the impact: He said there isn't any. "Given that we have the same legislators, the redistricting doesn't affect Kinnelon."

The offices of the 26th district legislators said they were not immediately available Monday.

Impact on Morris County

Morris County Democratic Committee Executive Director Chip Robinson said he was excited by one change to the local legislative map—the traditionally Democratic and Essex County-centric 27th district picked up several towns on his turf. It gets Harding, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Hanover and Madison (it also gets as Essex County's Millburn).

"I'm very, very happy," Robinson said. "For the first time I'm going to have some Democratic representation in my county."

The county last sent a Democrat to the state legislature in 1993, when Gordon MacInnes of Morris Township was the 25th district's senator. His single term ended in 1997.

"I think you're certainly going to see very competitive local races in the Eastern part of the county," Robinson said, predicting a down-ticket impact.

But John Sette, chair of the Morris County Republican Committee, said Morris would remain "100 percent Republican for municipal and county."

"You can tell my friend at the Democratic Committee not to worry. They went from absolutely no shot to absolutely no shot," Sette said. "Every year, they tell us this is their year. I'll believe it when I see it."