I read with interest the article in this week's Anton papers on the appointment of Thomas K. Dwyer to the office of town councilman in the Town of North Hempstead, and I congratulate him on his selection.

I was, however, disappointed by the failure of the Anton papers to cover the North Hempstead Republican Committee's call last week on Democratic Supervisor May Newburger for the appointment of a Republican to fill that seat, and, more importantly, for her to follow through on the creation of council districts in the Town of North Hempstead.

On January 15, I, as North Hempstead Republican Chairman, held a press conference, with former town councilmen Jim O'Connor, Angelo Ferrara, Gerard Cunningham, 2001 council candidate Jerome Galluscio and Dr. Rudolph Clark (a member of North Hempstead's Councilmanic Commission, appointed by Messrs. O'Connor and Ferrara while they were members of the town board). The press conference was covered by a number of news outlets, including WLNY TV-55 and Newsday. Unfortunately, the Anton papers did not send anyone, even though this is a significant town issue.

While critics of our call for districts have alleged that the Republican Party has resisted districts in other jurisdictions, the fact is that the North Hempstead Republican organization supports council districts (including the creation of a minority district, which we believe is feasible). In fact, over the past four years both Republicans who were on the town board supported council districts. For my part, as town Republican leader, I am personally committed to this idea. The time to implement council districts is now, particularly in light of this week's vote in the Town of Brookhaven to implement the system there.

Despite at least 10 years of lip service to council districts by Supervisor May Newburger, town Democrats have been trying, solely for political reasons, to avoid the creation of council districts, even though it is the right thing to do from a public policy and governmental standpoint.

Among the many reasons to implement council districts are:

- they allow councilpersons to afford better representation

- they allow councilpersons to be more responsive

- they better protect the rights of minority voters

- they allow for geographic balance on the town board

- they allow for a system of checks and balances

- they allow for varying viewpoints to be represented in town government

- they create political fairness and equity

So, why do the Democrats now want to avoid districts? Because they do not want to risk facilitating the election of Republicans to the town board (even though more than 40 percent of the town's residents voted for Republican town board candidates in 2001). Their change in tune on this issue is cynical politics-as-usual, putting partisan politics ahead of the best interests of the residents of the town. On the contrary, despite what others may say and think, the Republican Party happens to be on the right side of this issue. The time has come for council districts in North Hempstead. I hope that the Anton papers will give this story its due as it unfolds in the future.

Peter I. Cavallaro

Chairman

North Hempstead Republican Committee