Durham and Middlefield Redistricted: Looking Ahead to 2012

Change.

For Durham and Middlefield voters this single word sums up the plan approved this week by the General Assembly’s Reapportionment Commission.

On Wednesday, the bipartisan panel unanimously agreed to split Durham into two, newly crafted House districts - the 101st and 86th -- while consigning Middlefield to the 82nd.

While 2012 elections will decide the 2013-2014 representatives for these districts, you'll find information on the current (presumably incumbent) representatives below:

Middlefield - 82nd District (with Meriden)

State Rep. Emil "Buddy" Altobello (D)

"Hopefully it'll be like an old family reunion," says Altobello who represented the Western half of Middlefield from his 1995 election until the state's last reapportionment 10 years ago. "It's a wonderful small community." 

Altobello, who serves as Deputy Speaker of the House, says some of the issues he worked on while previously representing Middlefield included securing funding for sewers around Lake Besek and issues surrounding Peckham Park.

Durham - 101st District (with Madison)

State Rep. Noreen Kokoruda (R)

"Durham is a fabulosu place. I have many friends there and it is one of the most charming towns in the state," says Kokoruda. "The towns, whether it be Madison or Guilford of Durham, will expect the best educational systems, great service, and they want their towns to retain their local charm."

Kokoruda says she plans to find out more about the section of Durham she would represent if re-elected, and she says she could work effectively with Candelora (see below) to represent Durham.

Durham - 86th District (with East Haven, Branford and Wallingford)

State Rep. Vincent Candelora (R)

"Redistricting is a challenging process for the elected officials and for the people that they represent. When a district changes, you feel as if you lost a member of your family on the one hand, but on the other, you are gaining a new member of the family," Candelora says.

"I look forward to serving the community of Durham within the 86th District.  I believe my hometown of North Branford shares many of the same issues, and I look forward to being Durham's voice in Hartford."