The judicial approval of new congressional districts for New York places residents living in Islip and towns in the new Second District that will stretch along the South Shore from the Islip/Brookhaven border in the east to eastern most portions of Hempstead Town in Nassau County to the west.
The big news for those living in the eastern sections of Islip Town is that the district as drawn today would be represented by Congressman Peter King, R-Seaford.
Currently, residents of Sayville and Bayport are in the Second Congressional District, but are represented by Representative Steve Israel, D-Dix Hills.
King, who's served in the House of Representatives since 1993, wasn't immediately available for comment. Several published reports indicated that he would seek re-election in the district.
News of the new district lines and shift in representation was met positively by one prominent member of the Sayville business community.
“Steve Israel was a wonderful friend here and did many great things for Sayville,” said Bill Etts, president of the Sayville Chamber of Commerce. "We look forward to working with Peter King, who has spent time in Sayville, has friends here and is well-known here.”
While King is known to residents of Babylon and those residing in western and central Islip Town, his one challenge during his expected re-election campaign this year is gaining name recognition with those he hasn't represented previously.
The new Congressional districts for New York were approved on Monday by judges in the Eastern District of New York after the State Senate and Assembly were unable to come to an agreement on a map.
The new districts were drawn by U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann.
New York’s Congressional representation is dropping to 27 from 29, and Long Island is losing one of its five districts.
Ryan Bonner and Edward Robinson contributed to this story.
