Residents of North Hempstead last week, in what has become one of the most divided political issues in town history, voted in favor of a council district or "ward" system and increasing the number of councilmembers.

Some 9,400 of the town's 223,000 residents voted on the court-ordered referendum, passing both propositions by approximately 1,500 votes. According to results compiled to date by the town, residents voted 5,468 to 3,944 in favor of Proposition 1, which called for changing local government to a councilmanic system. In Proposition 2, 5,344 residents voted to increase the number of councilmembers who represent them from four to six while 3,776 voted against the increase. Results were set to be certified on May 7.

Presently, North Hempstead is run by a town supervisor and four councilmembers, all elected at large. Due to the change, the position of town supervisor will remain the only town-wide elected seat.

While passage of the referendum means the change must go into effect, who will draw the lines and exactly when council districts will be implemented is currently up in the air due to conflicting state and town laws. According to Section 85 of New York State Town Law, the board of elections must draw the lines and the election of council members must take place at the first general election after the vote, which would be November 2003.

A North Hempstead town ordinance, however, states that the town board draws the lines and that elections are held during the second general election following the vote. In North Hempstead, the next general election is scheduled for November 2005.

"The town had taken a position that the town board will draw the lines and that first election would not be until 2005, but we have told them that it should be done this year and lines should be drawn by the board of elections," said Town Republican Leader Peter Cavallaro. "We are requesting that the town turn this over immediately to the board of elections so that [district] lines can be drawn."

While it is possible that town law can supersede state law, political officials state that drawing the lines is not a simple task and should not be done in a rush. With petitions for the November 2003 candidacy due June 1, and this already the second week of May, creating the lines in such a short period of time would not allow for public input.

"People voted on something without even knowing what it looked like. Any course of action has to be put out to the public. There have to be public hearings and input has to be gathered from the community," said Joe Galante, chairman of the North Hempstead Democratic Committee and of the Councilmanic Commission. "The lines will have to be tweaked and mistakes will be made. If petitions have to go out by June 1, how can you say [in less than a month] that you are going to draw lines, have hearings and go out with petitions by June 1. You can't just draw lines and say 'here they are.'"

Galante added that in the case of redistricting the Nassau County Legislature, the entire process took four to five months. "If you are really for reform why would you want it rushed?"

Despite when the change will be implemented, those who rallied for council districts see the victory as the first step toward change in the town. "We were very pleased that both propositions passed. It is certainly going to lead to a much more representative town board," said Cavallaro. "Our only hope right now is that the town acts responsibly to implement this as responsibly and quickly as possible."

Despite passage of the referendum, voter turnout for the election was just over 6 percent of town's total population. "I am not surprised by the results, but I have to say I am still very sad that we were forced to do this in a special election rather than in November," said Town Supervisor May Newburger. "I hardly think 6 percent of the voting public is representative of those who vote. Had it [taken place] in November, it would have been with a regular, larger voter turnout and been a far more representative vote."

Galante, who was in favor of including the referendum on the November 2003 ballot, agreed, saying, "The people have spoken, although it was a very small number who spoke. As we had predicted, the turnout was dreadful."

Newburger added that the special referendum cost town taxpayers approximately a quarter of a million dollars and was a "most unnecessary and costly election."

According to Cavallaro, "We did everything we could to get people out and make them aware that there was an election. Although I am happy with the results, it's a little disappointing. With something as important as this you would like to see more public participation."