— — A map of proposed Senate and Assembly districts released by a task force from the State Legislature shows changes that creates a new senate district in Erie County and shifted boundaries that would change representation in both houses for parts of the Tonawandas.

Redistricting is mandated by law once every 10 years to reflect new Census data. The proposed boundaries were drawn by the Democrats for the Assembly and for the Senate, by Republicans. Public policy groups are already blasting the proposal.

Under the proposal, which requires the approval of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, would see his 62nd district add Niagara Falls, placing all of Niagara County under his watch.

The shift would cause Maziarz to lose parts of Rochester and Monroe County that he has represented for years.

“I’m excited (about representing the Falls). It’s obviously very challenging,” Maziarz said. “I spend a lot of time in the Falls anyway. I think having all of Niagara County in one Senate district is positive and I look forward to that.”

“I look forward to improving the economic development climate in the Falls. It isn’t very good right now,” he said.

Maziarz also noted he has a good working relationship with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and is hopeful about getting the governor to visit the Falls “soon.”

Mark Grisanti, the Buffalo Republican who shocked political insiders across New York state when he upset Democrat Antoine Thompson in the 2010 election, would see a major change in the composition of his 60th district. His district currently includes Niagara Falls, Grand Island, the City of Tonawanda and parts of Buffalo.

Under the task force’s proposal, Grisanti would represent the City and Town of Tonawanda, Grand Island and part of North Buffalo. The district also includes a narrow strip of land along the Buffalo and Lackawanna waterfronts, plus all of Hamburg, Orchard Park, Evans and Brant in southern Erie County. The district does not include what was Thompson’s most significant base of support, Buffalo’s East Side, heavily weighted toward Democratic voters.

Mike Ranzenhofer, an Amherst Republican whose 61st District includes the Town of Tonawanda, would lose the town and shift farther east, adding part of Monroe County.

In a statement issued following the release of the Senate map, Grisanti suggested his new district responds to requests to unite interests in Tonawanda, the west side of Buffalo and Niagara County, that were made during the public comment portion of the redistricting process.

“The commission clearly heard those concerns and acted accordingly by reconnecting those communities,” Grisanti said. “While we unite communities of interest, the Western New York delegation will continue to work together, without boundary lines, to serve the people of Western New York.”

Grisanti also seemed interested in assuming responsibility for Buffalo’s waterfront area.

“I believe that the greatest opportunity for growth, job creation and tax stabilization lies within this area,” Grisanti said. “I will be the leader and the voice in Albany for cultivating our underutilized waterfront.”

The new lines still must be finalized but could be in place in time for the fall election season. The process is supposed to be based on population figures reflected in the most recent U.S. Census.

However, critics maintain the current process, which involves elected officials drawing lines that opponents argue allow them to maintain their control, should be handled by a more independent entity.

Grisanti’s district, for example, as redrawn gives him greater Republican support. Democrats currently outnumber Republicans in his district by a 5 to 1 margin. Also, by keeping his district entirely in Erie County, Republicans hope to avoid interference by the state Conservative party, which has resolved not to endorse Grisanti and any other lawmaker who supported last year’s bill  that permits gay marriage. Districts that remain in one county are exempt from state party endorsements, though there could still be resistance from the county Conservative party.

In the Assembly, the change would feature a shift in representation for parts of North Tonawanda. Ray Walter, an Amherst Republican whose 148th District includes all of Amherst and Pendleton and part of North Tonawanda, would see his district shrink in area, by cutting North Tonawanda.

Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore, whose district currently includes all of the City and Town of Tonawanda and western North Tonawanda, would pick up the Martinsville area of North Tonawanda, but subtract a portion of the city generally north of Wurlitzer Drive. Schimminger would also pick up parts of Buffalo.

“It’s been a privilege to have represented virtually all of the Tonawandas in the past,” Schimminger said. “I’ll still maintain a good rapport with  people on the north side of NT and I’m looking forward to making friends in Martinsville.”

Republican John Ceretto, who represents the Assembly’s current 138th District, would add Grand Island and the northern part of North Tonawanda while keeping Niagara Falls and the towns of Lewiston, Town of Niagara, Wheatfield and Cambria as part of a new 145th Assembly District. Ceretto would lose the towns of Porter, Newfane, Wilson and Hartland.

Ceretto said he doesn’t consider the changes a done deal just yet, and said he thinks things may still change as the process continues to unfold.

“It’s honestly just preliminary in my mind,” Ceretto said. “I’m going to do the best I can to create jobs for this area no matter what my district looks like.”

Schimminger agreed that the new lines are far from being a done deal. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “There could be minor or major revisions.”

To see the proposed districts, click here.

The plan as proposed adds a 63rd Senate seat in the Albany region and Upper Hudson Valley, which experienced the largest percentage of population growth based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Democrats have charged that the added seat is a move by the Republicans to retain their one-seat majority in the Senate.

Although the new Senate district would be created in the Albany area, the 63rd District would be assigned to Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo) and consist of parts of Buffalo and all of Cheektowaga.

 Common Cause/NY, a group that has been advocating for an independent redistricting process, expressed disappointment in the maps released on Thursday.

“Overall, these maps appear to continue the long tradition of partisan gerrymandering we’ve come to expect,” Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner said. “There are major demographic changes that are simply not reflected on these maps.”