The Republican party recently nominated New York State Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara to run for a newly reapportioned 15th Assembly District (A.D.) which includes the addition of Hicksville. Ferrara, who is the current assemblywoman of the 15th A.D., was selected over Marc Herbst, current assemblyman for the 14th A.D. She will run for re-election this November against Democratic candidate James Buonagura.

The new state legislative district boundaries, as drawn by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, have reduced Long Island's Assembly delegation from 22 to 21 seats, granting the remaining seat to New York City. The elimination of a Long Island district, however, means that Hicksville, which currently falls within the 14th A.D., will be reapportioned to the 15th A.D. With both Herbst, who is a resident of Hicksville, and Ferrara now residing within the same district, the Republican party was left with no other choice but to choose between the two representatives.

In a previously published report, Joseph Mondello, Nassau Republican chairman, said the GOP chose Ferrara because some 80 percent of the newly configured 15th A.D includes her current district with Hicksville being the only addition. Ferrara has been a member of the Assembly for 10 years.

"I have served in the assembly for 10 years and I am honored to have the nomination once again," said Ferrara in a recent telephone interview. "I feel bad because Marc is my closest friend in the Assembly. While I am pleased to have the seat, it is bittersweet because I am upset that he has lost that seat. But I know he has a bright future in terms of politics and elected office." Ferrara added that she intends to ask Marc for his help in getting to know the residents and issues surrounding Hicksville.

Although disappointed with losing his seat, Herbst said he is glad to see Ferrara nominated. "Donna is a very close and dear friend," he said. "I am happy to see that my hometown will be included in her area and I trust that she will give it the attention that I did."

Herbst added, "It has been a wonderful opportunity and the greatest experience for me to represent this area. Everyone has been so gracious. People complain about being in politics, but for me it has been nothing but a rewarding experience." Although he has not yet decided what path he will take when his seat expires in January 2003, Herbst said he will be exploring all opportunities.

The reapportionment of the assembly districts adheres to the principles expressed in the Voting Rights Act and follows each decennial census of the state's population in an effort to ensure that citizens are appropriately represented by their elected officials.

In a previous Levittown Tribune article, Assemblyman William Parment, co-chair of the Task Force, said "If there were no population changes we wouldn't have to do this, but the population changes are such that some districts have as few as 100,000 people and some have as many as 170,000 people. [The] US Supreme Court's requirement for equal representation, the so-called one-person one-vote standard, must be met following each census."

Currently, the 14th A.D. comprises all communities between the Wantagh Parkway and the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway south of the Northern State Parkway, including Hicksville, Island Trees, Wantagh, Seaford, a portion of Jericho and Plainview and half of Bethpage.

The elimination of a district, however, means that in addition to Hicksville, the 14th Assembly District's remaining communities must be divided amongst five neighboring districts. As a result, Wantagh and Seaford will fall under the 19th A.D. with North Wantagh, Island Trees and Levittown in the 12th A.D., Plainview in the 13th A.D. and Bethpage split between the 10th A.D. and 13th A.D.

With the exception of Hicksville, the 15th A.D., which is comprised of communities within the Town of Hempstead, Town of North Hempstead and Town of Oyster Bay, will remain the same. The district currently runs east from East Garden City and includes Mill Neck, Matinecock, Muttontown, Upper Brookville, Brookville, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Westbury, Salisbury, East Meadow, Oyster Bay, Syosset, Jericho and Woodbury. While the district has gained Hicksville, it has lost North Bellmore to the 17th A.D., which currently falls under the jurisdiction of Maureen O'Connell. The new boundaries will be in effect for the 2002 election.