The magic number of 19 legislators derived following the reapportionment committee meeting on Saturday assumed a downsizing of representation. That would not be the case in the town of Pomfret should the plan be approved.
During Wednesday evening's working meeting, Town of Pomfret Councilman Rod Pennica discussed the redistricting map and how it would affect the town.
"It is what it is; it's confusing," Pennica said. "We gain a legislator. That's downsizing I guess."
Article Photos
Pictured is the proposed county legislative district for the town of Pomfret. As proposed, the town would be represented by four different legislators.
Currently the town is represented by District 24 Legislator Bob Scudder and District 25 Legislator John Gullo within the village of Fredonia, and by District 6 Legislator John Runkle in the town.
"While they're downsizing the legislature, Pomfret and Fredonia have the distinction of gaining one legislator," Pennica said. "Another legislator, who would have part of Fredonia and Pomfret, actually lives in Villenova. So that's a real stretch."
The new legislator would be District 5 Legislator Jerry Park who would represent the north east portion of the town.
"John (Runkle) will have much of Pomfret but not all that he has now, and part of Fredonia which he has none of now, if this happens," Pennica said.
District 23 Legislator Tom DeJoe in the town of Portland would also now have part of Pomfret. The elimination from five to four would come within the village. Legislator Bob Scudder and John Gullo would now be in the same district and would have to have a run off if they both chose to run again.
"It's all up in the air right now," Chautauqua County Legislator District 6 John Runkle said. "The proposal is yet to be approved. Some people are under the presumption that this has been approved and it hasn't been approved yet. It has to go to a public hearing which will be held on Wednesday, April 20 and it has to be voted on by the full legislature."
Runkle is encouraging anyone interested to become involved in the process, for or against, so that they know how they will be represented should the plan be approved.
"I'd encourage everybody who is interested in this downsizing to contact to their individual legislator and find out exactly where their districts are going to be and who they are going to be represented by,' he said. "I think it's important that the public gets their input in this. We need the input and I encourage people to come to our public hearing on the 20th to discuss their concerns and problems with the issue."
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