From The Daily Freeman: After all the talk of toned down rhetoric and a new bipartisanship in our government, it seems things are snapping back to control politics quicker than you can say "gerrymandering." The Daily Freeman reports this morning that the Republicans who control the Dutchess County Legislature have chosen that they will redraw the county legislative district lines instead of a previously chosen citizens committee, as is being suggested for the state legislature. Republican legislators on Monday managed to muster the votes needed to override Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus’ veto of a GOP-backed measure putting the redistricting process back into the hands of county lawmakers. The measure passed, 17-8, after Legislature Chairman Robert Rolison, R-city of Poughkeepsie, and Minority Whip Angela Flesland, R-town of Poughkeepsie, switched their votes.



The two had originally voted in favor of the 2009 law adopted by the Democratic-led Legislature that created a citizens commission to redraw the county legislative districts.It takes the votes of 17 of the 25 members of the county Legislature to override an executive veto. All the Democrats, along with Republican Marge Horton, R-East Fishkill, voted against the override. Similar redistricting will be occurring in Ulster County this year, as it shifts to a smaller-sized legislature, as well as on a state and national level.