Redistricting reform conversation comes to Shore

EASTON — Those who spoke at the Maryland’s Redistricting Reform Commission public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 6, largely supported an independent commission to tackle redistricting in the state, calling for more fair federal and state political district boundaries.

Gov. Larry Hogan in August signed an executive order that created the bipartisan commission, which aims to gather citizen and elected official input and consider creating an independent, nonpartisan commission to draw district lines in an effort to quash gerrymandering — the act of drawing political district lines in such a way to favor one party.

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone Republican in Congress who represents the entire Eastern Shore and parts of Harford, Carroll and Baltimore counties, said he’s been an early proponent of redistricting reform, even when the reform doesn’t favor his re-election prospects.

Harris, who is also a former state legislator, said that when Maryland’s congressional districts were redrawn in 2012, it packed Republicans into an area of one district, his Congressional District 1.

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