This Thursday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the selection of six additional members to complete a nine-member citizens redistricting commission created by Hogan in January of this year. The panel will act as an advisory commission to recommend congressional and legislative district maps to the Governor in preparation for redistricting during the 2022 legislative session. The Maryland Constitution requires the governor to submit a state legislative district map to the General Assembly on the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Traditionally, a congressional map is also submitted but it is not constitutionally required. Read the press release regarding the commissioner selections below.
Press Release
(April 15, 2021) Annapolis, MD – The co-chairs of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) today announced the remaining six members. In January, Governor Hogan issued an executive order establishing the nine-member Commission, which is charged with drawing fair and representative legislative and congressional maps for the 2022 elections that are compact and respect natural and subdivision boundaries to the extent practicable, and without accounting for political parties. Throughout his time in office, the governor has led the charge for redistricting reform in Maryland and nationwide.
The three co-chairs, announced earlier this year, are:
- Dr. Kathleen Hetherington – President, Howard Community College
- Walter Olson – Senior Fellow, Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies
- Judge Alexander Williams, Jr., – Retired Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
The six additional members were selected from the hundreds of applications that were submitted, and consist of two Republicans, two Democrats, and two individuals not affiliated with either of the two major political parties. The six additional members of the Commission are:
- Kimberly Rose Cummings (R)
- Mary G. Clawson (R)
- Cheryl R. Brooks (D)
- William Tipper Thomas, III (D)
- Jay V. Amin (I)
- Jonathan Fusfield (I)
The governor’s executive order charges the Commission with producing fair maps for both state legislative and congressional districts that comply with a set of criteria, including:
- Compliance with the U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights Act of 1965, and compliance with applicable judicial direction, rulings, judgments, and orders;
- Respect for natural boundaries and geographic integrity and continuity of political subdivisions, to the extent practicable;
- Geographic compactness, to the extent practicable; and
- Does not take into account citizens’ party affiliation or the address of an incumbent office holder or a candidate for office
The historic Commission will conduct regional meetings to allow citizens to offer comment on the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts, along with multiple public meetings, prior to the drawing of the maps.
“The response we received from Marylanders applying to be part of this process was truly remarkable,” said commission co-chair Walter Olson. “We thank all of those who applied and urge everyone to stay engaged in the redistricting process as the Commission moves forward.”
For additional information, go to redistricting.maryland.gov.
