Harris, who is director of the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance, added, “This is new territory for Mike. He has to get to know the town.’’

For Milton, the redistricting split the town between the Seventh District and the Eighth District, which has been extended south into Quincy and along the coastline to Scituate. Under the current configuration, Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Democrat of South Boston, represents all of Milton, as well as Randolph.

“I think it’s a positive,’’ state Representative Walter F. Timilty, a Milton Democrat, said of his town’s division into two districts.

“It gives us two hard-working congressmen we can call.’’

Capuano and Lynch have a history of cooperation. When Lynch came to Washington after winning a special election in 2001, he stayed on Capuano’s couch before he found an apartment.

Now, with their districts about to change, Capuano said that Lynch has briefed him on issues in Milton and Randolph.

According to Capuano, the big issues facing these towns - transportation, education, health care, and jobs - are the same ones confronting the other communities he represents. “It’s not like this is the other side of the moon,’’ he said.

Robert Preer can be reached at preer@globe.com.