County Residents Speak Up Over Redistricting

Posted

By Amy Koenig

The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee held a public hearing on August 30, to listen to public testimony regarding the upcoming redrawing of district lines. The hearing was moved, last minute, from the planned location of AACC, which was still suffering from power outages, to the Joint Hearing Room of the Legislative Services Building, in Annapolis. This provoked some complaints from members of the community.

Jim Snider made a point to ask that the committee note there is a need to have an emailing list that notifies interested parties of cancelations and relocations. The changes were noted by mid morning on their website, as well as in twitter post.

Jeanne D. Hitchcock, the chair of the committee, introduced her fellow members and said, “listening is an important component of this process.” She went on to explain that the committee was there to hear citizens concerns over the plans for defining new districts, both legislative and congressional. She explained that she and her fellow committee members were looking forward to the process, as they traveled around the state to hear the opinions of the public.

The room was filled with concerned citizens who came to speak to the committee and express their distress over the current districts and the decisions to come.

The Maryland Young Republicans chairman, Brian Griffiths, had more than one complaint for the committee, saying there was no reason for the average citizen to believe their recommendations mattered. He explained that the current state of things is disgraceful and “insulting to voters.”

Many of those who spoke had similar comments and concerns, calling the current lines disjointed and gerrymandered. Of those who came to testify, the majority was in favor of the republicans.

Ruth Latimer, a long time Anne Arundel County resident, described the current state of things as, “the best of salamanders would have trouble navigating the twists and turns.”

Delegate Cathy Vitale, R-Severna Park, explained how the representatives are “pulled in so many different directions.” Like many other speakers, she went on to say that in her opinion, Anne Arundel County should be looking to one or maybe two representatives at the most. This view was echoed by many of those who testified.

Amy Leahy, president of the Severna Park Republican Women’s Club gave her testimony. “Redistricting is a prime opportunity for more democrats than republicans,” Leahy said. “We already have basically a one party state.”

“Our representation as conservatives is pretty much nil,” Leahy said. She went on to point out that the public in general is becoming more aware to what is going on around them politically and that she hoped that when the choice was made that they would take into consideration communities, and try to keep those communities together, and reflect their members.

More information can be found on the Maryland department of planning website, where citizens can also submit comments, and find guidelines for submitting third party plans.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here