Anne Arundel County political leaders applauded Monday a redistricting map released by the state Court of Appeals, saying it will be less confusing to voters because it will keep five of six legislative districts within county boundaries.
A map created by the governor and endorsed by the General Assembly was redrawn by court officials late last week in response to complaints that Gov. Parris N. Glendening's map disregarded natural and county boundaries.
Local officials said they were pleased that Anne Arundel won't have to share districts with as many neighboring counties. For example, the revised map returned Odenton neighborhoods to a district completely within Anne Arundel County. More important, the court discarded a plan to attach a portion of southern Baltimore County to the 31st District, which includes Brooklyn Park and Glen Burnie.
"I have a district," said state Sen. Philip C. Jimeno, a Brooklyn Park Democrat who was traversing the Patapsco River via the Key Bridge in preparation for his 31st District re-election bid. "I can put my campaign signs up now!"
If there was anything to complain about, it was that the revised map pushed Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, a Clinton Democrat, out of Anne Arundel County.
The powerful politician's district has included Anne Arundel County's southern tip for the past decade, but no longer will. However, several elected officials said they have been reassured that Miller would continue to help county residents.
"It was always a good thing that he was [part of the county's General Assembly delegation]," said Del. Mary Ann Love, a Glen Burnie Democrat and chairwoman of the county's House delegation. "But ... I think he will remember us and be good to us."
Echoing the sentiment of other elected officials in the county, Love said the court's decision provides "a little more comfort" in light of a quickly advancing election season. When the court announced nearly two weeks ago that it would redraw the map -- a first in state history -- many officials put their political campaigns on hold, delaying orders for banners and yard signs.
"At least now we can get to work," Love said.
Employees at the county Board of Elections also are gearing up.
"It's like we are starting over," said Director Barbara L. Fisher, adding that she hired eight temporary workers earlier than usual to ease the strain on her regular staff.
"The new map creates a domino effect," she said yesterday. "If we have to adjust precinct lines, we will have to find new election workers and judges."
Before the most recent round of redistricting, all but one of Anne Arundel County's districts were contained within county boundaries. But the map proposed by the governor split four districts between Anne Arundel and Calvert, Howard, Prince George's or Baltimore counties.
The Court of Appeals map did away with all but one of the splits.
Fewer border crossings
The Anne Arundel communities of Maryland City and Russett, which the governor's map had moved from the 32nd District in Anne Arundel County to the 13th District, which lies mostly in Howard County, were transferred to the 21st District, which includes Prince George's County.
"It would have been an improvement if the entire county could be self-contained," said Del. John R. Leopold, a Pasadena Republican who was a plaintiff in one of 14 lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the governor's map. "But the court did reduce the number of border crossings. They kept them to a minimum."