Levy: Councilmanic Districts Bring Government Closer to the People

Earlier this month, the left-leaning advocacy group, Make the Road New York, joined well-respected attorney Frederick Brewington, to demand that Islip Town council members be elected through local councilmanic districts, rather than at-large districts voted on by residents throughout the whole town. While I usually agree with little espoused by Make the Road New York, in this case, they are on the right side of the issue.

All Long Island towns should be electing their representatives through distinctly drawn districts that represent select designated hamlets so that each of these communities is assured the attention they deserve. Yet, only a few, such as Brookhaven in Suffolk and Hempstead in Nassau, actually provide for this type of government that is closer to the people.

The argument for the at-large system, where a council person is elected by garnering the most votes of all of the town’s residents, is that the method prevents parochialism. Theoretically, decisions can be made for the greater good of the town, rather than by the “not in my backyard” opposition. But, with any vote, those representatives outside an impacted area will still have a majority to rule the day. At least with councilmanic districts, the impacted community will have its own representative who can speak out on its behalf.

If, for instance, a waste transfer station was proposed for a particular community, one would hope that the at-large council members would take the concerns of the local residents into account. And, in most cases, they do. But the type of analysis and advocacy for those residents would probably be more vigorously promoted by an individual who is accountable just to those folks in the area. It’s simple common sense.

That council district representative would not have the ability to veto a project, but would certainly be able to highlight its flaws and to garner the attention needed to make sure it is not rubber stamped.

Yet another important rationale for the district system is that it ensures that a local community is represented by someone who lives within that community. Presently, all four council members in Islip reside south of Montauk Highway. That doesn’t mean that any of those individuals are not going to take seriously the concerns of those north of the highway. But if you are a Hispanic in Brentwood, or an African-American in Central Islip, you have to wonder whether someone from your community will ever be able to be sworn in as a councilmember in the town.

Decades ago, the Suffolk County Legislature in redrawing its district lines, created a district for the predominantly minority communities of Brentwood and Central Islip. They have been represented by minority community members ever since.

The legislature has also proven to be a better form of government than the old board of supervisors, because the smaller districts provide the opportunity for underfunded, more independent candidates to have a shot at getting elected.

As an underfunded 25-year-old unknown candidate for county legislature in 1985, I was example A of that concept. No one gave me a chance to win the race. I had little backing from the party, no big corporate sponsors and no name recognition. Yet, I was able, with just a $5000 investment and a voracious door knocking campaign, to secure a narrow victory.

That would never have been possible if the size of my district was four times bigger, as is the case for those running for town council. Carving the town into four distinct districts would make money far less important. It would mitigate the need of a candidate to beg for the party leader’s support, or to have to rely on special interests to fund the next reelection campaign.

Steve Levy is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County Executive and as a state assemblyman.