New Map Keeps Borough in Republican District, Moves Township Under Democrat Codey

While Sen. Richard Codey (D-Roseland) will now reach into Morris County under the new state assembly district map, the former governor will let go of several Essex County communities—including his hometown of Orange.

"I’m disappointed to lose Orange," Codey said Monday. "It’s a place where I was born and raised. It really shaped a lot of my success. I’m thrilled to keep West Orange, Livingston, The Caldwells, and I’m looking forward to making some new friends in Morris County."

The , which was unveiled Sunday, moves Madison and Chatham Township from the 21st to the 27th district, represented by Codey, Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-South Orange).

"I'm disappointed," Chatham Township Mayor Nicole Hagner said, "because Chatham Township has had a longstanding and positive relationship with our three previous legislators. I look forward to working with Sen. Codey and the assembly representatives for District 27."

The Morris County communities of Chatham Township, Madison, East Hanover, Hanover, Florham Park and Harding will join the district, which also includes the Essex County municipalities of Caldwell, Livingston, Essex Fells, Maplewood, Roseland, South Orange, West Orange and newcomer Millburn.

The district loses West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Newark and Orange.

"It looks like we are back with Essex County," said Celeste Fondaco, chairwoman of the Chatham Township Democratic Committee. "I think that the Democrats will have more of a voice and as a Democrat,  that pleases me. I look forward to seeing what this change will bring.  I'm also pleased that Codey is now our representative in the senate."

The redistricting also moves Chatham Borough from the 26th to the 21st district, represented by Sen. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit).

"Isn’t that a surprise," Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan said. "I thought we were going to be in Codey’s district and we ended up in Kean’s. I didn’t expect that. Big surprise. I think everybody was surprised. They went around us. I didn’t believe it, because I’d heard rumors that we’d be with Codey. I was shocked when I heard we were going with 21."

Republican Township Committee Member Bailey Brower, Jr. said he "can't see the rationale of not having Chatham Borough and Chatham Township in the same district."

"I think they're just taking us out of play as a Republican community," Brower said. "When you look at the numbers in that [27th] district, our vote isn't going to count for a spit in hell. It's a shame, because we've been so well-represented. I don't understand why they wouldn't include Chatham Borough and Chatham Township together. We're talking about shared favors and it doesn't make sense to have the two towns separated in legislature."

"My gut feeling is that our best interest in the township has not been served by the jointure with this very large Democratic body," Brower added.

The 21st district, which spans Union, Somerset and Morris counties, now includes Chatham Borough, Bernards, Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Far Hills, Garwood, Kenilworth, Long Hill, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield, Summit, Warren, Watchung and Westfield.

"This whole map thing was incredible—incredible. I am not happy," said former Republican Sen. Leanna Brown, a Chatham Borough resident. "To throw Chatham Borough all by itself, we're not even in with Chatham Township. For anybody in Chatham Borough or Long Hill who wants to think of having any impact with their legislature in the next 10 years, it's not possible."

According to Brown, the relationships that have been developed will now be lost.

"If you're thinking of some kind of continuity and keeping people together, it's perfectly logical to use that as a criteria, and I think the county thing wasn't considered at all," Brown said.

"Certainly, the interests of the incumbents were taken into consideration, and I think what was not taken into consideration was the average voter."

Kean, Bramnick and Munoz lose their Essex County toehold of Millburn in the new map, along with seeing some changes to the district lines in Morris and Somerset counties.

The district loses Chatham Township, Harding and Madison in Morris County and gains Chatham Borough in Morris County, along with Far Hills and Bernards Township in Somerset County. The new map halves the district’s Morris County component from four to two municipalities and reduces the district to Union, Morris and Somerset.

The shifting of Bernards Township moves Assemblywoman Denise Coyle (R-Bernards) from a Somerset and Morris district into the Union County-dominated 21st. It is not yet known what Coyle's plans are.

“The district is still fairly Republican,” Bramnick said, stressing he represents all residents. “You are picking up Far Hills, Bernards and Kenilworth.”

Vaughan hopes the new plan is a better representation of the voters.

"I think we had good incumbents in the old district, we have good incumbents with this new district. It’s just a new configuration which hopefully will be fair to all the voters," he said.

"Hopefully, it’ll better represent the voters, and that’s what it’s all about. We went from one big Republican district to another big Republican district. I’m looking forward to whoever wins the primary and the general elections."

Bruce Harris, a Republican borough councilman who plans to run for mayor, expects an adjustment period.

"I'm not an expert at redistricting," he said. "Every cloud has its silver lining. It's going to be hard. We have to get used to new people. We're kind of isolated—we and Long Hill are the only Morris County people in this Union County-dominated district. We're broken off, and we're going to have to get to know a whole new slate of people."

Ed DiFiglia, chairman of the Chatham Borough Democratic Committee, said it remains unclear why the districts were aligned this way. However, he doesn't expect to receive much of an explanation.

"Honestly, we're still trying to figure out what it means for us," he said. "We went from one district full of Republican incumbents to another district full of Republican incumbents, so in essence, not much has changed."

Chip Robinson, executive chairman of the Morris County Democratic Committee, was pleased that the redistricting will provide the county with Democratic representation in the 27th district.

"I certainly think you're going to see very competitive local races in the eastern part of the county there's already, just based on the number of calls," he said. "There's a lot of enthusiasm among party members because of what happened. The county will still be perceived as Republican, but I certainly think there will be a lot more people open to Democrats."

But John Sette, chairman 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."

Laura Silvius, Louis Hochman and John Celock contributed to this story.