Western Baltimore County residents are calling for a county councilmanic redistricting plan that fairly represents the diverse communities in the area — and keeps existing communities intact.

Although Baltimore County’s 2025 Councilmanic Redistricting Commission has produced two proposed maps intended to increase representation of racial and ethnic minorities for an expansion from seven to nine council districts, many residents on the west side of the county are leaning toward what’s known as the Woodlawn Approach C.

Created by Keith Dorsey, Baltimore County’s former budget chief, the Woodlawn map would create two greater-majority Black districts around Woodlawn and Randallstown and a simple majority-minority district on the east side of the county.

“This map is created with our community and for our community,” Jayson Glenn, chairman of the Woodlawn Presidential Council, said at a public hearing in Randallstown Monday evening. “It preserves our neighborhoods, protects our voting power, and it ensures fair representation for all.”

Democratic state Sen. Benjamin Brooks also voiced support for the map, calling it a “blueprint for equity, representation and justice” in the county, especially for its underserved communities.

However, residents and Brooks’ colleagues in the legislature — Sen. Charles Sydnor and Del. Sheila Ruth, both Democrats — favored a 3-1-5 approach with three majority-Black districts, one majority district made up of racial and ethnic minorities, and five majority-white districts.

Peta Richkus, a former Maryland secretary of general services and fair maps advocate, noted a growing consensus for two goals: sustained, strong Black representation on the west side and creation of a majority district made up of racial and ethnic minorities on the east side.

Both the Woodlawn approach and a second draft map iteration support those goals, she said, but a 3-1-5 map would go further to increase representation of the county’s changing demographics.

The second draft map, proposed by Lisa Belcastro, a Pikesville resident who represents the existing councilmanic District 2 on the commission, creates two majority Black districts centered on Randallstown and Owings Mills, as well as two districts made up of people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Support for the two maps released by the commission has been more limited from county residents. However, state Del. Kathy Szeliga and Del. Ryan Nawrocki, both Republicans who represent portions of eastern Baltimore County, support the first draft because it unifies Middle River and Essex.

Brige Dumais, a political coordinator for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, warned that the county could be subject to another lawsuit if it does not adopt a map that complies with the Voting Rights Act.

In 2021, civil rights organizations and county residents sued Baltimore County over a redistricting map they said violated federal voting rights laws. A federal judge threw out that map but approved a redrawn map of council boundaries.

Baltimore County voters approved the council expansion to nine seats in November. However, the effort to enlarge the legislative body did not come without controversy, including concerns that the redrawn council boundaries could violate federal civil rights law.

“This is a lose-lose situation for voters of color who would remain underrepresented and for all Baltimore County taxpayers who would be forced to foot the bill for a lawsuit that is the result of illegal actions by county officials,” Dumais said. “We need our county to follow the law and be fiscally responsible.”

Others argued not for one specific map but for a redistricting approach that boosts representation and keeps communities together.

Although Catonsville resident Dawn Musgrave spoke in favor of a plan that keeps Catonsville, Arbutus and Halethorpe together, she added that she and her neighbors deserved a council representative “who lives in and understands the needs of our diverse and multiracial community.”

Jacqueline Fulton said if she had to choose, she would support the Woodlawn approach, but placing more resources into neighborhoods on the west side would be crucial.

“It does not matter who’s representing us if we get no resources,” she said.

Monday’s public hearing marked a key point in the redistricting commission’s work. With hundreds of comments to consider from hearings and written testimony, the commission is now tasked with coming up with a final plan to present to the county council.

Two more commission meetings were on the docket for Wednesday and May 28. The group’s work is expected to wrap up in mid-June.

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