Democrats vote to divide Hauppauge representation in the county

Hauppauge, NY (SmithtownRadio.com) – After a push to delay a vote that would redraw legislative districts throughout Suffolk, including in Hauppauge, the majority party passed Resolution 1527 dividing Hauppauge into two separate county districts..

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, six of the 18 legislatures, including John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R-Nesconset), voted to delay the vote on the resolution until August in order to allow revises to the plan. If approved, Kennedy’s District Twelve would be downsized to have Islip-residents living in Hauppauge represented by Tom Cilmi (R-Bay Shore). Kennedy currently represents that portion of Islip along with parts of Smithtown, Nesconset, Hauppauge, the Village of the Branch, Lake Grove, Commack, Islandia and Ronkonkoma. The rest of the greater-Smithtown area is represented by Lynne C. Nowick (R-St. James).

Without enough votes to push the vote to August, a motion was passed by the democrats to bring the resolution back to the floor. Ultimately, the bill was passed 11-5 with Kennedy and Cilmi voting against the measure. Nowick crossed party lines to favor the resolution.

Learn More: See the vote breakdown (pdf)

Legislators were up against a July 13 deadline to reapportion districts.

Editor’s Note: The legislators’ action on this issue was reported inaccurately in an article and social media post Tuesday. We apologize for this error.