Reyes In, Turner Out in Forest Hills?

likely new Congressional district. Now Republicans are taking their turn speaking out.

U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, R-Forest Hills, said he intends to run in the district in which he currently lives. that would put him in the Eighth District, running against Democrat Gregory Meeks.

“The redistricting plan introduced by the Special Master is just another step in the process. I am prepared to run in whatever district I reside in once the final lines are adopted,” Turner said.

Demographically, the Eighth would be a much tougher electoral prospect for Turner, with neighborhoods like Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village making up the bulk of the district.

Another Queens Republican, Juan Reyes, a Forest Hills lawyer and Kew Gardens resident, said he could see himself taking a shot at the newly-created Sixth District.

“That Sixth District looks like it could be a district I’d be interested in,” Reyes said. “It's a lot of people of diverse backgrounds … Queens is such a diverse borough, it is healthy to have diverse districts like that, that represent people that have a common interest in living in our borough.”

Reyes said he would be honored to be considered by the Queens GOP for the proposed new seat. Reyes was one name on the short list to run during the special election to fill the current Ninth District seat in 2011.

 As for the process so far, Reyes said that while the redistricting process has not gone as smoothly or quickly as some would like, it seemed like

“It sounds like the judge is trying to do the best to come up with fair districts,” Reyes said. “Just looking at these maps it seems like they're trying to be fair.”