Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle says she is ready for whatever changes may come from the state's redistricting plan.
Two New York officials familiar with a sealed redistricting plan say Rep. Maurice's Hinchey's seat will likely be eliminated. That could move Tompkins County into the 25th Congressional District.
The state legislature is working on changing the district lines to remove two congressional seats. New York is losing seats because of slow population growth in the 2010 Census.
Both the majority Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats are proposing to eliminate Rep. Hinchey's seat. He is retiring at the end of this term. Rep. Hinchey has held the 22nd Congressional District seat, which includes Ithaca and Tompkins County, for 20 years. Rep. Hinchey recently won his battle against colon cancer.
Rep. Buerkle is responding to reports her district could absorb Tompkins County. She says this is just one step in a lengthy process. "If the results of redistricting require us to introduce myself to a new set of voters," she says, "I look forward to carrying my message of smaller government, personal liberty, and economic prosperity across Central New York."
The Queens-Brooklyn seat held by Republican Bob Turner, and Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman's district based in Queens have also been suggested for elimination.
A federal judge will determine how the district lines will take shape by March 12th.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
