Lafferty: Council Redistricting Plan Violates Charter

A state delegate from Towson says that a from other nearby neighborhoods violates the County Charter.

Del. Steve Lafferty, in a letter today, said "Towson—the County Seat—is one community that has been ripped apart by this redistricting process."

At issue is a proposal to move two precincts that make up the community of Loch Hill from the 5th District into the 6th District. He said similar plans to divide parts of Loch Raven Village are unnecessarily divisive.

"In doing so, Loch Hill and Glendale-Glenmont have been artificially removed from being part of the Towson electoral community," Lafferty wrote in his letter to the County Council.

Lafferty added that "Loch Raven Village has been divided" with parts of the neighborhood being moved into the 6th District, which stretches to the county's eastern shoreline, while leaving other parts in the 5th District, which would include Perry Hall and Kingsville. 

"These all belong together and should be part of District 5," Lafferty wrote. "What do either have in common in any regard with the balance of the 6th District?"

Last week, residents of Loch Hill asked the council to keep its neighborhood in the 5th District. Many who testified pointed out that their children attend Towson schools and the community was involved in meetings concerning the revitalization of downtown Towson.

Other communities, including some from the Woodlawn and Randallstown areas, made similar requests of the council regarding one neighborhood in the 4th District.

"I believe that the proposed configuration violates Charter Section 207 (b), which clearly requires the creation of districts that are compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population and in due regard is given to the current natural, geographic and common boundaries," Lafferty wrote.

The plan the redistricting commission presented to the council is advisory only. The council can make changes.

The council could vote on the redistricting plan as early as September.