Howard County could have three congressional representatives if a redistricting plan drafted by the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee, which includes the House speaker and Senate president, makes its way through the General Assembly next week.

Gov. Martin O'Malley will introduce his redistricting plan, which state lawmakers expect will largely mirror his committee's plan, at the start of the special session Monday, Oct. 17. The committee's plan keeps districts 3 (Rep. John Sarbanes) and 7 (Rep. Elijah Cummings) in parts of Howard and adds part of District 2 (Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger) to the eastern portion of the county.

Howard County's state lawmakers have different thoughts on how the county should be represented in Congress.

"I would hate to see us go to more than two (representatives); we've had that before," Del. Frank Turner, a Columbia Democrat, said. "Two is fine, but I want to hear the arguments for having more than two."

Miller said a third congressional representative would further dilute the county's votes and give residents less representation.

"They're just carving us up into little bits to accommodate their gerrymandered lines," he said of state Democrat leaders.

Del. Guy Guzzone, a Columbia Democrat, said he loves the idea.

"The more people that represent us, the more people that have interest in Howard County, the happier I am," he said.

The lawmakers all agree that redistricting is a political process, and because the Democrats control the state, they will draw a map that favors the party.

"Redistricting is what we would call the spoils of war," Del. Gail Bates, a West Friendship Republican, said. "(Democrats) obviously won the election and therefore they get to make those choices."

Six of Maryland's eight congressional representatives are Democrats. In drawing new congressional boundaries, Democrats are aiming to increase that number.

"Any proposal they have should maximize the opportunity to get more Democratic seats," Turner said. "That's what happens in redistricting."