President's Message
DOES LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING UNITE COMMUNITIES ?
Recently Governor O'Malley and the Legislative Redistricting Committee released new Federal and State legislative district maps. This redistricting takes place every ten years in response to changing demographics that are captured by the decennial census. The process is not without its critics, who charge that whatever party is in control at the State level tends to shape legislative districts in a way that benefits their party at the expense of the other party. Complaints about gerrymandering are not only common here in Maryland, but in most states throughout our United States. Only the state of Iowa seems to have a truly independent body to redistrict their legislature, and seven other states use a bipartisan commission.
Here locally, the Congressional Redistricting map takes effect with the 2012 election. While on the State level, our legislature must ratify the State map during the 2012 legislative session, and the State map would first come into play during the 2014 elections.
On the congressional front, the greater Timonium area is carved into three congressional districts. The First Congressional District comprises in part that area east of York Road and north of Warren Road, including Beacon Hill and Sherwood Hills. While the Seventh Congressional District is comprised in part by the area north of Seminary Avenue, west of I-83 and east of Falls Road, including Pine Valley / Valleywood, Wellington Valley and Hunt Ridge. The largest land area in the Timonium area constitutes part of the Second Congressional District, including the majority, but not all, of Mays Chapel, the various Timonium subdivisions east of I-83, Lutherville and those subdivisions at the north end of Pot Spring Road.
One of the Governor's Redistricting Committee members, I don't remember which one, best capsulated the logic that they used to draw these convoluted and contorted districts. That member said that since Congressman Ruppersberger was on the House Select Intelligence Committee, the Redistricting Committee tried to create a Second Congressional District that included both Aberdeen and Fort Meade to reflect the importance of both communities to the intelligence efforts. So, in essence, the Redistricting Committee was more concerned about personal approbations and not about creating compact and geographically unified districts. God forbid, but what if Congressman Ruppersberger died in a traffic accident next week? Then the Second Congressional District's boundaries would serve as memorial to Dutch Ruppersberger for the next ten years, not as a reflection of a compact geographic area, nor as a reflection of his successor, who would have no guarantee of serving on the same committee.
The State Legislative District map contains fewer legislative districts for Timonium, but it too is disappointing. In the news release heralding the new map, Governor O'Malley trumpeted that "Communities across the State were united into a district, such as Pikesville, Montgomery Village, Aberdeen and Camp Springs." Unfortunately, that unity did not extend to the greater Timonium area. Unlike the last map when the greater Timonium area was carved into four State legislative districts ( 5A, 7, 11 and 42), this new map only divides us into two districts: the 11th and the 42nd. However, unlike the last map, which limited the 11th District to those areas west of I-83, the new map has the 11th District extend into part of Lutherville, east of I-83, and into parts of the Cockeysville area ( including Greentop Manor and the Town and Country Apartments), as well as all of Mays Chapel.
As I indicated at a recent public hearing on redistricting, the Timonium/Lutherville/Cockeysville area is primarily oriented to the York Road corridor. However, the 11th District is largely oriented to the Reisterstown Road corridor. So I am concerned that Timonium area residents who live in the 11th District will have their viewpoints minimized in this new district. So much for the Governor's claims of uniting communities.
Senator Bobby Zirkin saw my comments, and he quickly reached out to assure that he will actively represent the Timonium area when the new districts take effect in 2014. Senator Zirkin's proactive efforts are appreciated and it helps ease my concerns about the changes to come. Stay attentive and watch how these events unfold.
Eric Rockel, President