Officials: City more connected to Atlantic City, neighbors than Cape May, Cumberland towns
SOMERS POINT — City officials and political leaders are advocating for Somers Point to remain in Legislative District 2 when new boundaries are drawn up later this month.
The state’s 564 municipalities are divided into 40 Legislative Districts, whose boundaries shift based on population trends. They are redrawn every 10 years following the census by the Apportionment Commission, a 10-member bipartisan panel.
Redistricting is done to ensure each person is equally represented through the creation of districts that are as equal in population as practicable in order to achieve the principle of “one person – one vote,” according to apportionmentcommission.org. The final map determines the area represented by each of the state’s 40 members of the Senate and 80 members of the General Assembly.
District 2, represented by state Sen. Vince Polistina, Assemblyman Don Guardian and Assemblywoman Claire Swift, could lose Somers Point and others but perhaps gain other municipalities.
“Somers Point is an amazing community, filled with rich history. I am honored to currently represent them and would be equally as honored to continue to do so in the future,” Polistina stated in an emailed response to a request for comment, adding, perhaps figuratively, “No matter how the redistricting process comes out, I will continue to be the senator for all of Atlantic County.”
In fact, no one has represented all of Atlantic County in the New Jersey Legislature since at least 2001, when Somers Point was moved into District 1 following the 2000 census. The 2011 reapportionment moved the city back to District 2 but Corbin City, Estell Manor and Weymouth Township moved to District 1, Galloway Township and Port Republic moved into District 9 and Hammonton moved into District 8.
Any or all of those communities could be in play as the Apportionment Commission continues to accept public comment before drawing the final boundaries.
Advocating to stay
Mayor Jack Glasser, City Councilmen Sean McGuigan and Mike Owen and former City Council members Dennis Tapp and Kirk Gerety were among more than 60 people signed up to speak during the first public comment session before the Apportionment Commission on Wednesday Jan. 26.
“Somers Point was well represented,” said McGuigan, who appeared on WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM the following day to discuss the city’s position.
“We made our thoughts known that we prefer Somers Point staying in the Second Legislative District,” Glasser said. “Somers Point is part of Atlantic County. Many of our residents are employed by the casino industry and those companies that support the casino industry.”
McGuigan said Somers Point is more aligned with other towns in District 2 than those in District 1, which includes all of Cape May and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland counties.
“Our economic fortunes are tied to Atlantic City and the rest of the county,” McGuigan said.
He also argued that being switched back and forth between districts is confusing the voters and can lead to disenfranchisement.
“We want to try to get some consistency and remain in District 2,” McGuigan said, noting that the issue is not about specific representation.
Republicans Sen. Mike Testa and Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Eric Simonsen represent District 1.
McGuigan said perhaps the most important reason to keep the city in District 2 is that the legislative offices are in neighboring Linwood instead of Cape May Court House, providing better access to constituent services. He said a trip to Middle Township requires transportation that could be complicated by the distance.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense,” McGuigan said. “I’m advocating for Somers Point, what’s best for Somers Point.”
McGuigan said the effort is bipartisan, with Councilwoman Karen Bruno, a Democrat, also supporting it. In addition, he said, the head of both parties’ clubs in the city also are advocating to stay.
Tapp is new to the role as president of the Somers Point Republican Club but certainly not new to politics or looking out for the city. He served four terms on City Council and was a member of the Recreation Board.
Tapp said he reached out to Somers Point Democrats Club President Kim O’Brien and asked if they were familiar with the issue and she agreed that staying in District 2 would be beneficial.
“Working together we want to make sure we stay in District 2 to benefit the residents,” Tapp said. “Flip-flopping confuses voters and makes them feel uneasy and not wanted.”
O’Brien said she logged in to the meeting but had to disconnect before she had time to speak. She plans to join the meeting Wednesday, Feb. 2.
“We have legislative leaders who have roots here and know how it’s part of Atlantic County and intertwined,” said O’Brien, a teacher at Dawes Avenue School, noting the communities are connected by Mainland Regional High School and all work under the Atlantic County superintendent of schools. “Our legislative leaders should be people who understand that and have relationships that help us.”
She said she would be appreciative of the District 2 legislators’ support.
“I hope Polistina, Guardian and Swift will also testify on behalf of Somers Point to keep us in LD2. I hope we can count on them to stand up for us,” O’Brien said.
In addition, City Council adopted Resolution 44-2022 Thursday, Jan. 27, requesting to remain in District 2.
The resolution, introduced by McGuigan, notes how Atlantic and Cape May counties are different geographically, demographically, socially and economically, stating “Somers Point is a demographically diverse, working-class community, similar to much of the communities currently in the Second District” and “has different needs than those of Cape May County, being more suburban in nature, while much of Cape May County is made up of rural communities.”
It also notes existing shared services among local communities.
As the legislative redistricting process unfolds, the Apportionment Commission is providing information at apportionmentcommission.org, where residents can sign up to speak at one of the upcoming meetings scheduled for noon Wednesday, Feb. 2 (virtual), 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 (virtual) and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 (in-person, location TBD).
The new map is expected later this month. The next Legislative elections are not until 2023.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff