Brookhaven supe calls for redistricting

After a decade, Brookhaven's district lines are ripe for an update, according to town Supervisor Mark Lesko.

In his State of the Town address earlier this month, Lesko, a Democrat, said he would form a bipartisan commission to look at redistricting the town.

"Ten years ago our . . . districts were formed and it is now time to redraw those lines. And I propose to take the politics out of that process," Lesko said.

His panel, modeled after the Suffolk County redistricting commission, would have eight members: three Democrats, three Republicans, and two at-large members representing minor parties.

Lesko said he would not appoint anyone who has held elected office in five years, party leaders, or relatives of current officials.

Some town board members supported the plan, saying the districts would likely stay very similar to their present forms.

"In general his idea sounds like a very good idea," Republican Councilman Dan Panico said. "You want to make sure that similar communities are not split."

Deputy Supervisor Kathy Walsh, another Republican, said she didn't expect much change since growth in Brookhaven hasn't been concentrated in specific areas.

"The lines will be drawn due to population and there's no one particular area that has grown tremendously compared to others," she said. "My opinion is that things should stay pretty much close to the way they are."

No timeline has been set to form the commission, which would require town board approval. A resolution to form the commission has yet to be introduced.