Local Mayors Welcome Move to 14th District

The new state legislative district map moves East Windsor and Hightstown from the 12th, which mostly covered Monmouth County, to the more Mercer-centric 14th District. Mayors in both towns said this week they welcome the change.

“I think it’s a good thing for East Windsor because it puts us into a district which more reflects our county lines and our ongoing business and organizations,” said East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov. “It makes sense and I think it’s a good thing for the community.”

Hightstown Mayor Steve Kirson similarly said the move is the right one for the borough. “We’re probably in the right spot; I think we were kind of an orphan being where we were, so it really makes sense being part of the Mercer County group,” he said. “It feels like it was the right move for Hightstown to be where we were placed.”

The state commission that re-draws the state assembly district map every 10 years approved the new document Sunday. The changes reflect data from the U.S. Census, which also happens once every decade. After the 10-person panel became deadlocked, a judge appointed Rutgers public policy Prof. Alan Rosenthal as a nonpartisan 11th member to break the tie. He ultimately sided with the Democrats.

Now, East Windsor and Hightstown leave behind the 12th district, which is represented by Republican Sen. Jennifer Beck and GOP Assembly members Caroline Casagrande and Declan O’Scanlon Jr. The township and the borough join Hamilton and Robbinsville in Mercer County and Cranbury, Plainsboro, Jamesburg and Monroe in Middlesex County to be represented by Democrats Sen. Linda Greenstein and Assemblymen Daniel Benson and Wayne DeAngelo.

The township and borough previously belonged to the 14th district, before the last redistricting 10 years ago.

“I enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Sen. Beck and Asm. O’Scanlon and I hope that I can continue that relationship, notwithstanding that we are in a different district,” Mayor Mironov said. “I know the legislators in the 14th district and look forward to working with them and participating in the choices in the district.”

The change in district means the two towns will be working with other municipalities on common goals.

“We and Hightstown were the only Mercer County towns,” Mayor Mironov said of the 12th district. “That’s why I think [the move] is a good thing for the municipality and will put us in a district that more coincides with our county lines and with the towns we tend to work with on a more regular basis.”

She said she knows almost everyone in a leadership position in the other towns in the new home district, “so it just enhances further our opportunity to work together to possibly explore doing municipal business together as well as joining our voices on state-related issues.”

Mayor Kirson said Monday he welcomed the news, even if the impact won’t be felt immediately.

“On a day-to-day basis I wouldn’t think it’d have a great change, but now that we’ll be moving I think it’s just more sensible, and we’ll probably get a little more attention with other municipalities we’re near,” he said. “I think the grouping makes more sense.”

“It’s a good thing for us, I think,” he added. “We were kind of sitting on the outskirts, and we’re in a more sensible place now.”