Redistricting Plan... Where's the Plan?

True to his plan, the Governor of Maryland and his appointed committee held their scheduled meeting yesterday afternoon in Annapolis a half hour after the originally scheduled time of 4 p.m. and at a new location. 

The idea that it was rescheduled so quickly was good but the process was clumsy at best; deceitful and disingenuous at its worst.  Considering that so many in Anne Arundel County were still without power - which is why it had to be moved from the Community College - there was no way to notify all who had planned to attend. 

As a matter of fact one of the residents who arrived late at the hearing room complained that when he arrived at the community college there was no sign posted advising people of the change of location.  It was only after calling his wife's cell phone that he was able to get the information he needed.

When I first called the Governor's office around 9:30 after hearing the college still had no power, I was told they had no information about rescheduling the meeting.  

I then contacted Congressman Harris's office who promised to call the Governor's D.C. office which also had no information.  Then I received an email around 11 a.m. from Sen. Ed Reilly's office with all the information about the new place and time for this important informational meeting that would focus on the committee's future recomendations for Anne Arundel County - for both Congressional districts and our local legislators. 

Republicans know how important it is that our voices be heard especially since the last time a Democrat controlled House, Senate and Governor redrew the lines, you would have thought the state of Maryland was a Rorschach ink blot.  There are neighborhoods in Severna Park that are divided by legislative districts for no reason other than that's where Harold's purple crayon went.  Stewart's Landing and Magothy Forest are two examples of that.

The census every 10 years gives politicians the authority to redraw lines based on population shifts.   Unfortunately 'jerrymandering' occurs which is drawing the lines to suit politicians and keep the power in the hands of one political party.  District lines get moved to bring more Democrat-controlled areas into a conservative stronghold.  For example conservative Congressional District 8 in Western Maryland is targeted this year by a plan to bring in a large piece of Montgomery County. 

But whether you be a Republican or a Democrat, the reality is that having a 'one party' state is not good for any of the citizens.  There absolutely must be both parties represented to keep a checks and balances in the mix.

On the Severna Park front, there's talk of changing the line for Senator Reilly's district (District 33) moving some of Prince George's County in and some of Crofton - in Anne Arundel County - out.  Make any sense to you?

There's also talk of using Ritchie Hwy. as the dividing line for District 33 legislators, which means that Severna Park will be divided in representation and that our current members of the House of Delegates will no longer represent all of us because they all live on the east side of Ritchie Hwy. 

Those delegates, Cathy Vitale and Tony McConkey live in the area that will become part of District 31.

The time allotted for yesterday's information-gathering meeting was two hours and because of the low turnout of citizens, we were out of there in one.

Sadly, there is no plan put forth by the committee or the Governor's Office of Planning - yet.  These meetings being held throughout the state are 'information gathering' only.  There's no discussion between the committee members and the public - no questions were asked by the members.  And of course no proposed map was available.