By Doug Carman, Staff Writer
Local Democratic leaders applauded East Windsor and Hightstown’s relocation from the 12th District to the 14th after the state redrew its legislative map, while Republicans were more conflicted with the change.
Currently on the western edge of the Monmouth County-dominated 12th District and represented by Republicans, the two municipalities will soon be in the center of the Democratic-leaning 14th, which will include Hamilton and Robbinsville in Mercer County along with Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro and Spotswood in Middlesex County.
On Sunday the Legislative Reapportionment Commission completed the task of realigning all 40 legislative districts, an action that is required every 10 years to reflect population shifts documented by the U.S. Census.
Party primaries will be held June 7 for the 120 legislative seats up for grabs this year. The new legislative districts take effect Jan. 1.
East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, who also is the Democratic municipal chairwoman, said the township benefits from the move, which pairs it with most of its neighbors, who share more similar regional interests than the communities in Monmouth County.
She said the township does business regularly with these towns, including a joint effort last year with the mayors of Robbinsville and Hamilton in litigation against the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection. The three townships successfully had their funding restored for a reforestation effort after the New Jersey Turnpike’s widening project eliminated more than 225 acres of trees.
”Having said that, I enjoyed an excellent relationship with Sen. (Jennifer) Beck and Assemblyman (Declan) O’Scanlon, and hope I can maintain that relationship,” Mayor Mironov said of the 12th District legislators.
Walter Sikorski, Hightstown’s Democratic municipal chairman, agreed with Mayor Mironov’s assessment.
”Also, Sen. (Linda) Greenstein and (Assemblymen) Dan Benson and Wayne DeAngelo are Democrats that understand the needs of our community much better,” Mr. Sikorski said of the current 14th District lawmakers. “(Ms.) Greenstein used to represent Hightstown when she was an assemblywoman.”
Skye Gilmartin, a Hightstown councilwoman and the borough’s Republican municipal chairwoman, said she also believed the redistricting would improve the relationship between Hightstown and its neighbors, but said she would miss working with the 12th District’s representatives.
”It’s kind of a bittersweet change for us,” Ms. Gilmartin said. “We definitely felt like the stepchild of Monmouth County out here, but maybe because we’re Republicans, we had a good relationship with them.”
Al Grupper, East Windsor’s Republican municipal chairman, echoed Ms. Gilmartin’s sentiments.
”I obviously am disappointed to lose the Republican representation, but I’m thrilled to be back with communities on this side of U.S. 1,” he said. “Before we were tied to Monmouth, and even though I think (Sen.) Beck and (Assembly members) Caroline (Casagrande) and Declan were great, their primary constituency was in Monmouth County.”
As to the prospects of having Republican representation in the 14th District, he said, “Of course there’s a possibility. … Good candidates should always win.”

