In the face of the Brookhaven Town GOP's efforts to dissuade voters from creating councilmanic districts and in light of the history of the Hempstead GOP and Nassau GOP fighting the creation of councilmanic and legislative districts, I find the press conference held by the North Hempstead GOP supporting the creation of said districts on January 15, 2002 both ironic and pathetic.

GOP Town Leader Peter Cavallaro and the Town of North Hempstead Republican's whining about the GOP's marginalization by the Town's voters has nothing to do with good government, fairness and representational democracy and everything to do with winning (or in their case, losing), power and privilege.

For Cavallaro to insinuate that only Republicans can represent Republican voters runs counter to every belief of government and society we Americans hold dear. Elected officials represent all voters, regardless of party affiliation. May Newburger, Michelle Schimmel, Wayne Wink and Fred Pollack were elected by such wide margins because Republican voters crossed party lines to vote for Democrats. Where were Mr. Cavallaro's protestations in favor of Democrat and other voters when Republicans ran North Hempstead?

Also, the Town of North Hempstead has a bipartisan commission led by Democratic leader Joe Galante exploring the creation of councilmanic districts showing a deep-seated commitment to democracy, good government and the voter not shown recently by the GOP.

Instead of trying to manipulate the system to serve themselves, the North Hempstead Republicans would do well to work harder to serve the people.

Thomas Sobczak

Westbury