#keepstmarystogether Call to Action

Delegate Morgan and I want to alert you to the following political redistricting proposal that we believe substantially weakens St. Mary’s County. The proposal comes from the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission, which will host its final meeting with public input on Monday.

Redistricting is performed every 10 years based on census data of the population. While State district sizes have always been slightly larger than St. Mary’s County itself, the district always included St. Mary’s County as a whole; only a small section of Calvert County or, in the distant past, a tiny area of Charles County was added to ensure each district throughout the state remained somewhat equal in size. A map below shows you District 29 in its current form.

This proposed draft map significantly alters St. Mary’s County by grabbing a section of Mechanicsville, Oakville, Hollywood, and California. These areas are relocated to a predominantly Anne Arundel & Calvert County district. 

The new proposed St. Mary’s District would run North-South from the Prince George’s County border to Point Lookout and East-West from Indian Head to the Patuxent River!

The map below demonstrates what the proposed district would look like.

The Maryland State Constitution requires that districts are to be “compact and contiguous”.

Clearly, the proposed district that includes Mechanicsville, Oakville, Hollywood, and California is not contiguous, and is certainly not compact. The hope of any new district lines is that it would continue to keep our communities together, as we share common challenges and needs that are so often tied to our geographical region.

For example, the economic drivers for St. Mary’s County businesses, especially those associated with the Naval Air Station Patuxent River are significantly different from businesses in Anne Arundel County. 

Delegate Morgan and I are asking for your help and input to keep our St. Mary’s community whole. Any new map should allow for St. Mary’s County to remain intact for the simple reason that we believe our unique peninsula-based community is stronger. 

CALL TO ACTION
The Redistricting meeting to go over these draft maps is set to occur on Monday evening via ZOOM.  

We are asking you to help us by testifying at the meeting with a straightforward message for the commission. 

Let St. Mary’s County remain whole. Do not divide and gerrymander us!
Click here to register to provide testimony
Click here to submit a map

You can also submit your comments electronically or send a redistricting question to redistricting.commission@maryland.gov.

Thank you for your time and consideration,