By Joel Giambra
Buffalo, NY – Friday is the deadline Federal District Court Judge John Elfvin set to receive a new reapportionment plan from Erie County.
County Executive Joel Giambra signed the reapportionment plan Thursday. It would cut the Legislature from 17 to 15 districts, that includes two Democratic Buffalo seats.
The Republican redistricting plan was approved through a weighed voting system in the County Legislature last month. Judge John Elfvin imposed weighted voting after the Legislature failed to supply a reapportionment plan in 2001.
Giambra says he's pleased with new redistricting plan.
"It does not gerrymander like the plan that was approved by the Democratic Legislature last year," he said. "It is very clear here that there was a conscious effort to abide by the one man, one vote rule. It appears they tried to keep town boundaries intact and not split towns, which is very important. Still, there is some unfortunate effect to the City of Buffalo."
Democrats voted against the plan saying it cuts up too many districts. Minority Leader Charles Swanick says he believes the reapportionment plan will now be played out in a long-court battle.
Giambra has directed the County Attorney to submit the redistricting plan in compliance federal court order.