Redistricting Resolution

Press Release

From Legislators McCabe and Bunnell

In response to calls for reform in government and the need for  elected governing bodies to be more responsive to people who elect them, Dutchess County Legislators McCabe and Bunnell have submitted a resolution to amend the Dutchess County Charter to change the way that boundaries for legislative districts are determined after each federal census. 

The change calls for the formation of  a 5-member Advisory Committee to recommend district boundaries to the Legislature.  Two members would be named by the majority caucus of the Legislature, two members by the minority caucus, and those four would choose a fifth member to serve as Chair of the Committee. None of the members would be currently elected to public office and would not currently hold any party position.

The proposal is similar to plans being put before the NY State Assembly and Senate, and has some similarities to plans being put forth for other County Legislatures in New York State.

The Committee’s criteria, in descending order of importance, would be: population equity, contiguity, unity of villages and towns, and compactness.  Any plan for district lines would be subject to vote by the full Legislature.

Legislators McCabe and Bunnell have the support of other legislators and hope that it will be on the agenda for discussion in November’s meeting.