The Maryland Court of Appeals' redistricting map reunites Hampstead within one legislative district and assigns fast-growing South Carroll its own delegate to the General Assembly, pleasing members of the county's all-Republican delegation.

Although western Carroll and eastern Frederick counties will still share representation, the court's plan is "almost perfect for Carroll," said Del. Joseph M. Getty, a Manchester Republican and attorney who was one of the petitioners in the redistricting suit.

"We deserve exactly four delegates and we have four now almost entirely in Carroll, except for a small point around Mount Airy," said Getty, who announced last month that he will not seek a third term. "I must say it was very exciting to argue a case before the Court of Appeals and have them agree with you on something as significant as this."

Del. Carmen Amedori, a Westminster Republican seeking her second term, commended the court for having the "courage" to undo Gov. Parris N. Glendening's redistricting proposal, adding that, "for Carroll, it means all our municipalities are together."

The governor's plan would have split Hampstead along Main Street and given half the town a Baltimore County delegate - and, Republicans complained, given Democrats a better chance at winning a seat representing at least a small part of Carroll County.

Getty said he could not have asked for a better redrawing of the district boundaries in Carroll and throughout the state.

"The courts gave due regard to political boundaries and pieced together these districts tightly," Getty said. "What they did in Western Maryland and what they did statewide is exactly what the constitution calls for.

"Glendening's plan was blatantly partisan," he added. "There were numerous instances of political gerrymandering, and the court held its nose at Glendening's plan and redrew it correctly."

The court granted two of Getty's three requests. Besides removing the line that had divided Hampstead between districts, it redrew the boundaries for Frederick and Washington counties, eliminating a fishhook-like sliver of District 3 that had stretched through the center of Washington County.

The appeals court did not redraw the boundaries of Frederick and Carroll counties so that each had districts entirely within its borders - a request that Getty acknowledged was "too difficult a fix" for the court. But, Getty expects that population increases in the next decade will eventually give the two Western counties districts within their own borders.

Sen. Larry E. Haines, leader of Carroll's delegation, who once called redistricting a spectator sport for his party, also applauded the court's decision.

"Republicans don't gloat. They just rejoice," said Haines. "The court's decision is good for the voters of the state. I expected the courts to overrule the governor, but I didn't think they would go as far as they did. They even reflected on 1990 and corrected problems that had Baltimore City crossing into Baltimore County."

Overall, Carroll County has largely the same configuration as in Glendening's plan. The county retains its newly created single-member district (9B) in South Carroll, as Getty had requested a year ago. It also keeps a single-member district (4B) in western Carroll and a two-member district (5A) for the towns and outskirts of Westminster, Finksburg, Hampstead and Manchester. Amedori and Nancy R. Stocksdale represent 5A and are running unopposed.

Amedori said she is confident about her re-election bid.

"I do not expect another Republican challenger, but if a Democrat comes forward, I am ready to put on a good campaign," she said.

With the redistricting debate settled, more challengers might enter Carroll's delegate and senate races before the filing deadline that was extended to July 8, Getty said.

"I know there was a lot of apprehension about filing because of the court contest," he said. "Now [prospective] candidates can re-evaluate and make up their minds."

Sun staff writer Jennifer McMenamin contributed to this article.