Marks: Redistricting Commission 'Did Its Best'

A Democratic state delegate's letter Monday criticizing a plan to redraw the county's seven council districts drew a quick response from one freshman Republican county councilman.

Councilman David Marks, in an email following an earlier post here on my blog, said Del. Steve Lafferty's ideas for redrawing the 5th District would divide "communities of interest."

"At the , Delegate Lafferty suggested that Perry Hall be split off from the rest of the 5th District, and that a Towson-Timonium district be created instead," wrote Marks, who represents the current district that stretches from Towson to just east of Perry Hall.  "Such a move would shift Parkville, Perry Hall, and other urbanized communities into the rural Third District.  That hardly seems to be a "community of interest."  

"Having represented the 5th District for nine months, I believe Perry Hall has more in common with Towson than it does Monkton, Hereford, and Maryland Line," Marks wrote, who lives in Perry Hall. 

Lafferty, in a letter to the council Monday, complained that shifting communities out of the current 5th District violated the County Charter provisions that districts be compact. Of particular concern to Lafferty were the communities of Loch Hill and Loch Raven Village.

Both areas could be moved into a new 6th District under a proposed redistricting plan currently before the County Council.

Lafferty, a Towson resident, said both areas had more in common with Towson than they do with areas like Parkville and Middle River, which would also be in the 6th District.

Marks last week called the plan "an imperfect map" and added "there's a concern, though, that one change could open a Pandora's box."

In his email Monday afternoon, Marks praised the work of the council's first-ever redistricting commission.

"The redistricting commission did its best juggling a lot of issues," wrote Marks. "The division of some communities, such as Loch Raven Village and Loch Hill, is unfortunate, but I don't think can be rectified without splitting precincts."

"I enjoy a productive relationship with Delegate Lafferty," wrote Marks.  "I'm sure he will be equally as forceful in asking that Governor O'Malley's recommends fair, compact districts not based on partisan considerations."