Redistricting chief: No time for new panel

ALBANY- A key Republican said Wednesday that it's too late to launch an independent commission to redraw state legislative districts in time for 2012 and that the state should keep the process in the hands of lawmakers -- a move critics say would ensure gerrymandering.

"We've long since run out of time for that process to unfold," said Sen. Michael Nozzolio (R-Fayette) following the first meeting of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Redistricting. "We're under the gun here in terms of time period that the (U.S.) Justice Department has to review the plans proposed by the task force and legislature."

Nozzolio, the task force's co-chairman, said he believed the process would be bipartisan and transparent. Watchdog groups disputed that and said putting legislators in charge created obvious conflicts of interest. They have strongly criticized Senate Republicans for backing out of a promise to turn redistricting over to an independent panel.

To comply with the newest U.S. Census, New York must adopt new election lines for the legislature and its congressional districts in time for next year's elections, and eliminate two congressional districts. The timeline might be shorter than normal because the 2012 legislative primaries may be moved up to June, instead of September, to accommodate military service members, noted Assemb. John McEneny (D-Albany), the task force's co-chairman.

McEneny said that while it was not too late to create an independent commission, it was important to begin public hearings to get input on the record.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed a bill to create an independent redistricting panel, but Republicans rejected it over technicalities about selection of panel members. Cuomo has vowed to veto any plan that widely varies the number of people in each district.

He reiterated that vow Wednesday at an event near Syracuse, saying, "I will veto a plan that is not independent or a plan that is partisan."

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch and Dick Dadey, executive director of government watchdog Citizens Union, Wednesday called on the legislature to hold a special session to create an independent commission to draw the lines.

"This process is full of conflicts of interest," Dadey said following the meeting. Lawmakers "have a vested interested in the outcome because it's about preserving incumbency."

The task force plans a first round of 12 hearings with the final one to be held on Long Island in October. Once drafted, redistricting plans would then be subject to public comment in a second round of hearings. The legislature, Cuomo and the federal Justice Department must approve the new lines. If New York lawmakers can't resolve the issue, a special master can be appointed by the court to draw the lines.

Seeing an opportunity for redistricting to give minorities in Nassau County a greater voice in the legislature, Sen. Martin Dilan (D-Brooklyn) said that hearings should be held in both Nassau and Suffolk counties.