Montville Still on Clear GOP Turf As Legislative Maps Get Redrawn

Legislative and party leaders throughout New Jersey are scrambling to make sense of a new political landscape. But in Montville, the winds of change are blowing a little more softly.

While legislative district boundaries shifted across the state this weekend, Montville remains firmly planted in the 26th District, represented by by state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Jay Webber, all Republicans.

And though the makeup of the 26th District itself has changed—scroll down to the bottom of this article to see a full breakdown of the new 26h District—it's still clearly Republican turf.

The 26th—served currently by state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Jay Webber, all Republicans—lost Bloomingdale, Chatham borough, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes and Riverdale. It picked up Jefferson, Rockaway Township,Fairfield, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell.

The changes come as political lines shift throughout New Jersey. The commission responsible for drawing the state's legislative districts in the aftermath of the 2010 census has made its decision, and approved a legislative map favored by Democrats overall.

The redistricting process involved a commission of five Democrats and five Republicans, the latter with political support from Gov. Chris Christie. Each side drew its own map for the state, and a tiebreaker vote was cast over the weekend by a non-partisan, judge-appointed commission member, Rutgers public policy professor Alan Rosenthal. The professor sided with the Democrats, saying their map was less disruptive to the state.

“It’s not really a big deal on the Montville level, but it could have impact on the county and state level, certainly," Democrat Dan Grant, former Montville deputy mayor, said. "Some districts are already going to have to reshuffle their Democratic candidates. People always complain that Morris County is Republican, but you can’t blame the Republicans for winning elections. That’s what they are there for. It’s up to the Democrats to put up a better fight, that’s what we are here for.”

Republicans statewide have criticized the new map, saying it protects incumbent Democrats and unevenly represents populations in the northern and southern halves of New Jersey.

Local Republican leaders Montville Patch attempted to reach Monday were not immediately available for comment. The offices for the legislators serving the 26th district said they would not be immediately available for comment Monday as well.

Key Changes in Eastern Morris County

Morris County Democratic Committee Executive Director Chip Robinson said he was excited by one change to the local legislative map—the traditionally Democratic and Essex County-centric 27th District picked up several towns on his turf. It gets Harding, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Hanover and Madison (it also gets as Essex County's Millburn).

"I'm very, very happy," Robinson said. "For the first time I'm going to have some Democratic representation in my county."

The county last sent a Democrat to the state legislature in 1993, when Gordon MacInnes of Morris Township was the 25th district's senator. His single term ended in 1997.

"I think you're certainly going to see very competitive local races in the eastern part of the county," Robinson said, predicting a down-ticket impact. The changes do mean that with a week until filing deadlines, Democrats will have to scramble to place challengers in several legislative races, and some expected candidates' towns have changed districts.

But John Sette, chair of the Morris County Republican Committee, said Morris would remain "100 percent Republican for municipal and county."

"You can tell my friend at the Democratic Committee not to worry. They went from absolutely no shot to absolutely no shot," Sette said. "Every year, they tell us this is their year. I'll believe it when I see it."