Common Cause New York, the political reform group that is pushing for more coherent political boundaries, has unveiled a series of maps that would bring big changes to the North Country.<\/p>\n
The maps are unlikely to be enacted in their current form as the redistricting process continues, but Common Cause is hugely influential (check out Karen DeWitt’s story today).<\/p>\n
Governor Cuomo says he wants a plan developed by some kind of independent group.\u00a0 So here’s a first look at how CC NY’s plan would play out here in our back yard.<\/p>\n
CONGRESS<\/p>\n
Under the group’s proposal, all of the North Country would be grouped under a single massive congressional district, based largely on the 23rd district now held by Democrat Bill Owens of Plattsburgh.\u00a0 (Check out the map here.)<\/a><\/p>\n But the long finger of political geography in the southwestern Adirondacks now held by Republican Richard Hanna (NY-24)\u00a0 — whose district includes the area around Old Forge — would be sliced off.<\/p>\n So too would the long tendril of turf held by Republican Chris Gibson (NY-20) — whose district includes chunks of Essex, Warren and Washington counties — get the axe.<\/p>\n According to this map, a single lawmaker would represent more or less the entire Adirondack-North Country, from just north of the Mohawk Valley to the Canadian border, from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain.<\/p>\n STATE SENATE<\/p>\n