Bevins: Redistricting Commission Did Its Job

At its last legislative session, the County Council passed a Bill which revises the seven councilmanic districts that make up Baltimore County. 

The redistricting process is required by law, once every 10 years, following the Census in order to account for changes in population, and thus ensure equal representation for county residents at the County Council level.  Earlier this year, the Council appointed an independent, five-member Redistricting Commission to review the existing maps, boundaries, population, and to hear community concerns, and to ultimately recommend a new Councilmanic district map. 

Following months of meetings, discussions, and public hearings, the Commission presented its map to the Council as a recommendation.  My colleagues and I also heard public input from various communities, and we collectively discussed and considered many alternatives and amendments to the map, but each change caused challenges or consequences for other communities along the district boundaries. 

One common misconception, however, is that the district boundaries might divide or expel neighborhoods from the greater community.  The truth is quite the opposite; adjustments to councilmanic district lines do not change or determine which school districts, Zip codes, or communities residents live in, shop in, or choose to associate with.  Nor does redistricting alter the geographic boundaries of communities.  

Instead, it simply determines which Council Member on the County Council represents a specific area of the county.  In fact, it is not uncommon for several council members to represent portions of the same greater community.  Currently, for example, I represent the Essex area with Councilman John Olszewski, Sr. (7thDistrict), and areas of Perry Hall and Parkville I share with Councilman David Marks (5thDistrict).   

Over the last decade, the sixth district saw the second highest growth in terms of population, just behind the fifth district, while the seventh district, saw the least growth in population.  Thus, the recent Census figures revealed a significant difference between the number of residents in the sixth and seventh districts. 

In order to balance the population of each of the seven councilmanic districts, certain adjustments had to be made here and throughout the county.  With Baltimore City to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the south and east, the adjusted boundaries of the seventh district could only expand in one direction – up into the Sixth district. 

As such, the upper boundaries of the Sixth district expanded further into the Fifth, and so on.  Although the maps may never be “perfect," overall I think the Redistricting Commission and the County Council did a great job, given its mission, the legal requirements and the geographic constraints of the county. 

A copy of the maps and more information on redistricting is available on the County Council website.  The new district maps will not take effect until after the 2014 election.  In the mean time, I look forward to continuing to serve all of the constituents I currently represent, as well as beginning to get to know the new communities and residents I will be representing in 2014.