Residents Call for More Diversity on County Council

Calls for additional diversity on the Baltimore County Council punctuated the second meeting of a commission that will make recommendations on redrawing the council's seven districts.

Linda Dorsey-Walker told the Council Redistricting Commission during a public hearing at New Town High School Wednesday that she was concerned by discussions she heard at the commission's organizational meeting last month.

"I heard some discussion that there's already an African-American district so we don't have to deal with that," said Dorsey-Walker, who then told the five-member commission that African-Americans comprised 38.3 percent of the county's 805,000 residents.

"That means that if there are seven council districts perhaps consideration needs to be given to—not necessarily this time—but a future that would lead to greater representation of that 38.3 percent that will grow to even larger numbers next time," said Dorsey-Walker, a Democratic Central Committee member.

A decade ago, the county's African-American population was slightly more than 20 percent.

The council, in the redistricting process at that time, essentially blew up the existing districts. What was then the 4th District, encompassing the greater Towson area, was moved to the northwest part of the county and included Randallstown, Woodlawn and part of Reisterstown.

The change was specifically designed to create diversity on the council by creating a so-called "minority majority" district. Councilman Ken Oliver, a Democrat, became the first African-American to serve on the council when he was elected to represent the district in 2002.

African-American population in Baltimore County. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Mark Beytin, a former president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, agreed with Dorsey-Walker and that 10 years after the county elected its first African-American councilman, more diversity is needed.

"I've sort of been embarrassed with our County Council and its makeup," Beytin said. "We have as many women on the council now as we've had in the entire history [of the county]."

Women elected to the Baltimore County Council

"We have one African-American representative," Beytin said. "It doesn't represent our county."

The redistricting commission held its in Towson Tuesday.

As with that meeting, a number of people Wednesday night asked the commission to unite communities carved up when the current districts were drawn 10 years ago.

Noel Levy, a Pikesville resident, asked to unify Reisterstown in one council district.

"First of all, Reisterstown has been split up among districts 2, 3 and 4 since the last redistricting, and I would encourage you to please try and bring Reisterstown and Glyndon into, I think District 2 is the best fit for that," said Levy, who ran for House of Delegates in 2006. "It's been fun having three councilmen there but I think it's better to try and include it all in District 2 and not split it into three different districts."

Mary Molinaro, a resident of Chartley and president of the Reisterstown Owings Mills Glyndon Coordinating Council, said her area has not received the attention it deserves.

"We're such a small part of any one of the three [districts] that it is very difficult to capture their attention and their interest and really let them fight the fight and work with us to accomplish goals," said Molinaro.

As with Tuesday, the commission was asked to try to avoid partisan considerations as it redraws the maps. Only one of the five members of the commission was appointed by Republican council members.

"Please provide us with an outcome that is free from gerrymandering and results in districts that are compact and sensible, keeping those with similar concerns and interests together," said Ann Miller, a former Republican Central Committee member.

The commission will hold its third and final public hearing at 7 p.m. April 28 at Patapsco High School.