Local residents should be aware that because of the legislative redistricting of Nassau County, some residents will be voting in newly designated districts, with different incumbents and challengers than might be expected.

For instance, Oyster Bay and East Norwich will now fall in the same district, the 16th L.D. Prior to redistricting, East Norwich was in the 17 L.D., which included Syosset and Hicksville - with Legislator Edward Mangano (R-Bethpage) holding the seat, and Oyster Bay was in the 18th L.D., which was represented by Brian Muellers (D-Glen Cove).

As a result of the changes, it is important for voters to keep the postcards sent to their homes by the Nassau County Board of Elections informing them of their new district designations so that they will go into the polls with the right information on who they wish to vote for.

The former 16th L.D., currently represented by Judy Jacobs (D-Syosset) included part of Jericho, Old Bethpage, Plainview, Woodbury and part of Syosset (shared by Legislators Mangano and Muellers.) The new 16th L.D. takes in more of the North Shore and now includes Bethpage, Cove Neck, East Norwich, Jericho, Laurel Hollow, Oyster Bay, Plainview, Syosset and Woodbury.

The former 17th L.D., currently represented by Legislator Mangano, covered Bethpage, Brookville, East Norwich, Hicksville, part of Jericho and Syosset, Muttontown and Old Westbury. The new 17th L.D. now includes Bethpage, Hicksville, Levittown, North Massapequa, Plainedge, and South Farmingdale.

The previous 18th L.D., currently represented by Legislator Muellers, covered Bayville, Centre Island, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Sea Cliff and a small part of Syosset. The new 18th L.D. will include Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Greenvale, Jericho, Lattingtown, Matinecock, Old Brookville, Old Westbury and a part of Oyster Bay (see map), Sea Cliff, Upper Brookville and Hicksville.

Due to his full-time job and family commitments, Muellers will not be seeking re-election this November.

Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs and fellow members of the majority approved a legislative redistricting map on Feb. 27, as required under the county charter. The new maps were drawn to adapt the county to the 2000 census changes that occurred in the past 10 years. The last redistricting maps were drawn in 1994.

"This is a fair plan for Nassau County and it keeps all 19 incumbents in individual districts," said Jacobs.

The map also splits fewer villages and maintains the registration plurality, with seven districts showing a majority Democratic registration and 12 with Republican registration. The map also maintains effective minority districts in both Districts 1 and 2 and complies with the federal Voting Rights Act.

Initiating the redistricting was not without its problems. On Jan. 3 the Temporary Districting Commission was unable to submit a proposed map to the legislature for consideration. When the commission failed to act, the work was taken up by the legislature to work with the commission's staff to formalize a map that could be approved by the full legislature. On Feb. 27, the map was approved, 10-9, along party lines.

The redistricting plan, however, was challenged in US District Court by plaintiffs Michael J. Cecere III, Christine A. Nagy, William Odol, Carolyn Delvecchio and Donald V. Pupke, Jr. The complaint, filed on April 1, charged that the redistricting plan adopted by the legislature on June 27 violated the 14th Amendment as well as various provisions of state law. U.S. District Court Judge Denis R. Hurley dismissed the suit, stating that the allegations of the complaint "fall short of establishing a federal constitutional violation."

In response, Jacobs said, "It is a shame that the county had to spend time and taxpayers' money to defend these unsubstantiated allegations brought by the Republicans."

Deputy County Attorney David Goldin, however, stated that the basis for the dismissal was because there were no grounds for the allegations that the redistricting plan violated the 14th Amendment or requirements that a good faith effort be made to achieve a deviation of population within districts of as close to 10 percent as possible.

The approved map has an estimated total deviation rate of 8.94 percent, which is considered to be a minor deviation. "I don't see any of the issues as being vulnerable if they choose to appeal," Jeffrey M. Wice, Esq., counsel to the defendants, said. They chose not to appeal.

The creation of the maps used the most advanced database ever created for Nassau County. The appointees of the Temporary Districting Commission used the most sophisticated software available and for the first time ever, merged county mapping, Board of Elections and the New York State legislative-generated US Census databases.

In talking to a group of Anton Newspaper editors on Sept. 12, Jacobs said while she lost some of her Democratic base and now has about a third Republicans in the new district, she felt the changes were fair.