Buffalo, NY (WBEN) We're learning about the redistricting for Assembly districts as members of the Assembly are receiving word themselves. One lawmaker says he's learned of some changes to his district. The first draft of both Assembly and Senate maps have been released.

State Senator Mark Grisanti issued a statement about the change in his district. "Having attended the public comment portion of the redistricting process, I know that many individuals expressed their desire to unite communities of interest in the city of Tonawanda, the west side of Buffalo, and Niagara County. The commission clearly heard those concerns and acted accordingly by reconnecting those communtiites," says Grisanti, whose 60th district will now comprise of Grand Island, the Tonawandas, parts of Buffalo as well as the waterfront areas of Buffalo and Lackawanna, and Hamburg, Orchard Park, Evans and Brant.

Fellow Senator George Maziarz will have all of Niagara County in his district. "I am extremely pleased that Niagara County is back in one senate district," says Maziarz, who notes Niagara Falls had been lumped in with the city of Buffalo. "I was happy to see that we did not lose a senate district despite the highest population loss. Populationwise, Buffalo is smaller than one senate district," notes Maziarz.  As for Grisanti's new district and concerns come election time, Maziarz is confident in a Grisanti victory. "The elections are based more on the candidats who run and the issues at the time. I think it's overblown when it comes to redistricting," claims Maziarz.

Senator Michael Ranzenhofer's district will cover Northern Erie, Genesee, and a small part of Monroe County. Patrick Gallivan's district covers southern and eastern Erie County, along with Wyoming and a portion of Livingston Counties. The 63rd district covers Lackawanna and South Buffalo, currently served by Tim Kennedy. Kennedy is not happy with the Senate map. "The Repubilcan majority in the senate put together a redistricting scheme that gerrymandered new legislative maps to protect their own political interests. They've manipulated the map to maintain their grab on power in Albany and to protect their own incumbent," says Kennedy. Kennedy says Republicans broke their promise for an independent redistricting. Kennedy contends while his district is re-named the 63rd district, the actual district is in the Albany area. "What the scheme does is that it adds a seat in the Hudson Valley area. It dilutes the amount of Democrats across New York to allow Republicans to retain power. It does nothing to help Western New York taxpayers. It's a slap in the face to democracy," says Kennedy.

Assemblyman Robin Schimminger says there will be some changes to account for the 11,000 loss in population in his district over the past ten years. "The change will involve my district carrying one part of North Tonawanda that I did not represent, while no longer representing a different part of North Toanwanda I currently represent," says Schimminger. Schimminger will also add portions of North Buffalo to his district.

Assemblyman Kevin Smardz says his proposed redrawn district is dramatically different. "The new district covers the west side of Buffalo including the town of Hamburg," says Smardz. "The previously drawn district included town of Hamburg into southern Erie County, all those towns, 11 of them. They have been removed from the current proposal." Smardz believes the demographics and needs of Hamburg and Buffalo are different and had proposed legislation calling for an independent organization to redraw election districts to keep that from happening. That same area is where Sean Ryan would represent, and it could lead to a showdown later this year.

Both Smardz and Schimminger say it is early in the process.