Council Introduces Redistricting Bill

The Baltimore County Council formally introduced a proposal to redraw the county's seven council districts Tuesday night.

The plan contained in the bill is identical to the in June by the county's first Redistricting Commission. It's scheduled to be discussed at the council's Sept. 27 work session. A final vote is scheduled for Oct. 3.

In theory, the redistricting plan can be amended all the way up to the final vote.

Still unresolved are two issues: moving the Woodlawn High School precinct from Democratic Councilman Ken Oliver's 4th District into Democratic Councilman Tom Quirk's 1st District, and moving the small Towson area community of Loch Hill from Republican Councilman David Marks' 5th District to the 6th District represented by Democratic Councilwoman Cathy Bevins.

Further complicating the issue is Del. Steve Lafferty's claim that the plan, including the Loch Hill shift, .

Marks reiterated a statement he made last month in which he said he would with Bevins and keeping Loch Hill in his district. Such a move, he repeated Tuesday night, would require council support to split the precinct—something he considers unlikely since the redistricting commission and some council members said they would not support it.

Marks said splitting the precinct would be more likely if Quirk and Oliver reached an agreement to split the Woodlawn precinct.

Such a precinct split between the two west side Democrats seems unlikely.

"I'm supporting the Redistricting Commission's recommendations," Quirk said. "That's where I'm at."