Gloucester County Times - Some New Jersey residents might want to take a second look at who is actually representing them in the state Senate and Assembly as of today.
The state’s new legislative district map takes effect Jan. 1.
Every 10 years, after each U.S. Census, legislators are allowed to redraw the lines of the legislative districts, based on updated population data gathered during census research.
While the redistricting is meant to help state senators and assembly members govern more effectively, it does take a little bit of getting used to on the part of the legislators and their constituents.
“We’re doing everything we can to remind people, to let people know, because their representatives have changed,” said State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, who has picked up some new municipalities and lost a few he previously represented in the redrawn Third District.
When Sweeney is sworn in to the Senate on Jan. 10, he — along with Assembly members John Burzichelli and Celeste Riley — will be representing 13 Gloucester County towns including the boroughs of Clayton, Swedesboro, Glassboro, National Park, Newfield, Paulsboro, Swedesboro, and Woodbury Heights, plus the townships of East Greenwich, Elk, Franklin, Greenwich, Logan, South Harrison, West Deptford and Woolwich.
The trio will also represent Alloway, Bridgeton, Carneys Point, Deerfield, Elmer, Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, Oldmans, Pennsgrove, Pennsville, Pittsgrove, Quinton, Salem City, Upper Deerfield, Upper Pittsgrove and Woodstown.
“It’s important to know who represents you when you have issues in the community, when you want to communicate with your legislators,” Sweeney said. “A lot of time we get letters from people because they don’t know who their reps are … If they see my name in the paper more often, they send stuff to us and we wind up referring it to the senate or assembly people in the district where the people live.”
The boundaries for the Fourth and Fifth Districts have also changed.
Fourth District Legislators Sen. Fred Madden and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty and Assemblywoman-elect Gabriela Mosquera will represent Gloucester County’s Monroe Township, Pitman, and Washington Township, plus, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, and Winslow Township.
The Fifth District — represented by Sen. Donald Norcross and Assemblymen Gilbert “Whip” Wilson and Angel Fuentes — will include Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury, and Deptford, Harrison and Mantua townships in Gloucester County.
In addition, the Fifth District senator and assemblymen will represent Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Camden City, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mount Ephraim and Woodlynne.
