Looks like he is running…Doyle announces fundraiser

Delegate Doyle Neimann who currently represents the 47th Legislative District has thrown out the first sign he does intend to run for reelection with an over the weekend email announcing an upcoming fundraiser. The event will have high powered headliners too, House Speaker Michael Busch and possible future speaker Delegate Maggie McIntosh are listed as co-hosts. The event which will take place on June 28th at the Three Brothers Restaurant is the first sign of the looming redistricting battle which could put all three of the 47th’s incumbent delegates against one another.

This year the Maryland General Assembly gave their somewhat approval to a plan that took the current 47th and divided it into two sub-districts, 47A and 47B (where all of the three incumbents live. Under the new plan 47A will have one seat and 47B will have two seats. The problem is Niemann along with Delegates Jolene Ivey and Michael Summers all live in the two seat 47B. According to most observers if the match up does materialize Niemann could find himself on the outs. In 2010 Ivey and Summers ran on a ticket with now-Senator Victor Ramirez. They are rumored to be joined by County Councilman Will Campos who will run for the A seat after he is termed out with the council in 2014. Niemann ran on a ticket with then-State Senator David Harrington who was defeated by Ramirez.

2014, it will be here sooner than you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Federal Judges use support of black political leaders to justify upholding redistricting maps

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The Washington Post reports the federal panel of judges review the congressional redistricting maps used favorable testimony from Executive Rushern Baker and Executive Ike Leggett to justify upholding maps they themselves see as lacking. Read the story online here.

Federal judges uphold Maryland’s controversial new congressional map

By Aaron C. Davis, Friday, December 23, 5:15 PM

A panel of three federal judges upheld Maryland’s controversial new congressional map Friday, ruling that critics had failed to prove the state’s Democratic leadership either sought to dilute the voting power of minorities or that the new map would do so.

The ruling all but cleared the way for Maryland Democrats to seek to oust the state’s senior Republican lawmaker, 10-term Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, and to perhaps hand the party a seat to help win back control of the House in 2012.

Under the new map, Bartlett’s 6th Congressional District, which was centered in western Maryland, stretches nearly 200 miles, from the West Virginia line to the Capital Beltway, and takes in nearly 350,000 mostly Democratic voters in Frederick and Montgomery counties.

In making the district competitive for a Democrat, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and the legislature split majority-minority Montgomery into three mostly white districts. The plaintiffs had contested that change and had argued that the state’s surging minority population required Maryland to have drawn a third majority-black district.

The judges, however, ruled for the state on every count. In so doing, they affirmed a first-in-the-nation effort by Maryland to count prisoners not in the jurisdiction of incarceration but in those of last-known address.

The state’s Democratically controlled General Assembly passed the law this year. It effectively increased the census counts of Baltimore and Prince George’s County by several thousand at the expense of more rural areas containing Maryland’s largest prisons.

Jason Torchinsky, an attorney for members of the ,Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee who were named plaintiffs, and the conservative Legacy Foundation, which funded the suit, called the judges’ ruling disappointing.

In a 38-page opinion, 4th Circuit Court Judge Paul V. Niemeyer wrote that “evidence does not suggest, much less prove, that the political process in general or the redistricting process in particular is so infected with racial considerations that a desire to dilute African-American voting strength was the predominate factor” in designing Maryland’s new map.

Rather, citing an argument made in a hearing Tuesday by Maryland Assistant Attorney General Dan Friedman, Niemeyer pointed out that several black political leaders, including Montgomery and Prince George’s executives Isiah Leggett (D) and Rushern L. Baker III (D), supported the new map. “As counsel for the State suggested at oral argument, accepting the plaintiffs‘ argument . . . would require us to conclude that — the entire African-American leadership in the State of Maryland was hoodwinked. We cannot reach such a conclusion.”

Alexander Williams Jr. and Roger W. Titus, both of the U.S. District Court for Maryland, concurred in the opinion.

Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for O’Malley (D) said, in a statement after the ruling that the governor’s map “complied with the letter and the spirit of the law. We were confident that it would stand up to legal challenges.”

Torchinsky, however, said the state should take seriously parts of the judges’ opinion that stressed Maryland should be careful in deciding lines for state lawmakers.

O’Malley hosted a hearing on that map Thursday and must introduce it when the General Assembly reconvenes next month. The map has drawn protests from some African American lawmakers and community leaders in Prince George’s and Baltimore who contend it does not do enough to protect existing majority black districts. The map increases from 10 to 12 to the number of majority-black Senate districts.

Titus, one of the district court judges, wrote separately to lament that there wasn’t a clearer judicial test for partisan gerrymandering and to make clear he was less than pleased with Maryland’s map, saying portions resemble “a Rorschach-like eyesore.”

It “is clear that the plan adopted by the General Assembly of Maryland is, by any reasonable standard, a blatant political gerrymander,” Titus wrote. “I would not have hesitated to strike down the Maryland plan. The question, however, is on the basis of what standard?”

Titus said he found the combination of extreme western Maryland with suburban Montgomery County particularly distasteful. He said he found the new 6th District to be a violation of natural boundaries and communities of interest that would not have been permissible under state standards for drawing General Assembly districts.

“I realize, of course, that during the redistricting process partisan considerations and incumbency protection inevitably play a role, but….

“Those who have an interest in farming, mining, tourism, paper production, and the hunting of bears, are paired with voters who abhor the hunting of bears and do not know what a coal mine or paper mill even looks like.”

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Fannie Lou Hamer PAC slams Del. Griffith over closed door meeting on redistricting maps

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The Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, which has made a name for itself by using forceful language to attack redistricting maps they disagree with, took Prince George’s County Delegation Chairwoman Melony Griffith for holding an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee’s map.

Read their full statement below:

To Whom It May Concern,

On tonight, Monday, December 19, 2011, the Prince George’s County House Delegation held a meeting on legislative redistricting at the Prince George’s County Administration Building.  This meeting was called by the Delegation Chair, Melony Griffith, Democrat 25th Legislative District.  The purpose of this meeting was to critique the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee’s Legislative Redistricting proposal for the 47 Districts in the State of Maryland.  The invited speaker was Joseph Bryce, the Legislative Director for Governor Martin O’Malley and the key staffer to the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee.

The Maryland Open Meeting  Laws states that when the House Delegation Members meet to conduct public business, those meetings are to be publicized and open to the public. (http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Maryland_Public_Information_Act)

Delegation Chair, Melony Griffith, decided to hold this meeting as a “closed door meeting.”  This is a clear violation of the laws that they are elected to uphold.  It is my understanding that the topic of redistricting is an ineligible criteria for executive session meetings.  All of the Governor’s redistricting advisory committee meetings were open to the public and had transcripts produced to demonstrate a legal history of the meetings and work products. If I am incorrect and this meeting was legal then I find it to be clearly unethical.

Dennis Serrette, the President of the Barnaby Manor Civic Association, attempted to enter the meeting.  Mr. Serrette stated that he was stopped by the police and was told that this meeting was closed to the public and only for Delegates.  Mr. Serrette stated that there were 10 police officers standing guard to block the doors and public access to the meetings.

It is my understanding that Senator Mike Miller informed Delegate Melony Griffith that this had to be a closed door meeting to allow Delegates that were being redrawn out of their districts an opportunity to present their grievance.  Incumbency protection of elected officials is the only concern for Senator Miller and Delegate Griffith.

Anytime an African American Women instructs African American County police officers to prevent the Black community from being informed on redistricting is DISGRACEFUL.  Especially if this action is coming under the direction of a White man, Senator Mike Miller.

I know that you are tired of hearing this but this is just another example of ‘Negro Intellectual Castration.”  Or since we are speaking of a Black Women..I will call it “Negress Intellectual Abuse.”  I hope that I am wrong and am falsely accusing Delegate Melony Griffith.  If I am wrong then I publicly apologize.  If I am right, then Delegate Melony Griffith owes the Black Community an apology for instructing a Black man with a gun to prevent another Black Man from exercising his Public Rights…

Yours in the struggle,

Radamase Cabrera

–
Fannie Lou Hamer – Political Action Committee

“Ensuring A Fair and Responsive Redistricting Process”

P.O. Box 2302 * Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

flh.pac@gmail.com * 240-389-2066 * www.flh-pac.org

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Message from proposed redistricting map, white officials beware in Prince George’s

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Prince George’s County has 23 delegates in the Maryland House of Delegates. Additionally we have 8 senators for a total of 31 voices in the General Assembly. If the newly proposed map by the Governors Redistricting Advisory Committee is approved by Gov. O’Malley the county could lose a delegate but even more it could see as many as six more minorities in the delegation all at the expense of…white incumbents.

Changes to districts 21, 22, 23, 27 and 47 which are the only legislative districts in the county with white delegates or senators has made being a white elected official in Prince George’s County a dangerous thing. That these proposals were made by a committee with only one African-American is even more shocking.

Prince George’s County has 8 white delegates and one Filipino. The other fourteen are African-American. The county has three African-American senators, one Hispanic senator, and four white senators. However under the proposed map by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee things might change a lot!

District 21

The incumbents in this district should remain safe, including the two white delegates Ben Barnes and Barbara Frush, but changes to the southern portion of the district will impact the safety of Delegate Doyle Niemann in the 47th.

District 22

District 22 currently is made up of the communities of Greenbelt, Hyattsville, New Carrollton, and Riverdale, but changes to the map bringing in communities with more blacks such as Lanham, Seabrook, and Glenn Dale could seriously endanger Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegate Ann Healey. The district has another white delegate in Justin Ross but Ross has proven himself to be a favorite in the black community. While the only African-American delegate in the district Tawanna Gaines out polls them both year after year, Healey has often come in third of the three and in 2006, the last time they faced a challenge, only beat challenger Karren Pope-Onwukwe by 1,355 votes or 6%.

Senator Paul Pinsky on the other hand hasn’t faced a primary challenge since 2002. This could make him out of touch with voters where he hasn’t had to actively campaign for reelection in 9 years now but 12 by the next primary. A district with more black voters for an aging senator (he will be about 64 during the next primary) could make him a target for retirement.

District 23

Nobody thought that leadership favorite Senator Douglas JJ Peters would be on the chopping block during redistricting. The chairman of the delegation, Peters is well liked both in Annapolis and his district, but has long feared a well-funded African-American taking him out as almost happened in 2006 when Bobby Henry challenged him and lost by about 2% of the vote. In 2010 Henry made another run for it, but without the funding Peters crushed him for reelection. That could change in the district proposed that makes 23A (the more white district) smaller and expands 23B (the more black district). To make matters more interesting 23A which currently has two delegates will lose one (we will talk about in a moment) and 23B will gain one (it currently has one and he is…black). Does this mean Peters might be out? No because Peters has a good relationship with many parts of his current African-American community and if he does his job right he will keep it, but it does put him on notice.

Delegate James Hubbard on the other hand is gone. Will he retire instead of fighting to keep his seat is the question but if 23A goes from two seats to one will in no way be able to fend off newly elected Delegate Valentino-Smith who crushed him in 2010 by over 6% of the vote. While the two of them ran on the same slate as Sen. Peters and 23B delegate Marvin Holmes, there was no secrete Smith and Hubbard hated each other and Peters preferred Smith over the elder statesman.

District 27

The movements to make District 27A a one member seat verses the current two seat and draw out Delegate Vallerio has taken many by surprised. Vallerio much like his senator Mike Miller who is president of the senate, has been in Annapolis forever. Miller also was a member of the committee that came out with this map. Vallerio is well liked by most in the delegation and despite his age still makes it around to events. He also chairs the Judicial Proceedings Committee and giving up a chairmanship is not anything many in the county seem interested in doing. However that this move was made might mean that Vallerio has indicated to Miller he desired to step down.

District 47

In 2010 Delegate Doyle Niemann ran against the slate of Senator Victor Ramirez, Delegate Jolene Ivey, and newbie Delegate Michael Summers. He ran instead with Senator David Harrington. The Ramirez and Ivey team hasn’t trusted him since and when district 47 goes into an A/B district he can expect to not be on the ticket. In 2006 he lost to newcomer Jolene Ivey by almost 10% and barely beat the other incumbent Rosetta Parker by 3% to keep his seat. In 2002 he barely beat newcomer Victor Ramirez by almost 2% but the difference between him and the losing candidate in 4th place was only about 4%. In 2010, the most recent race he came in second place by beating newcomer Michael Summers with less than 3% of the vote after he was crushed again by Ivey with over 10% of the vote. It will not help him that when the district is split into an A/B seats with B having two and A having one, he will be in the B seat with Ivey and Summers with the A seat being drawn for a Hispanic.

How all of this plays out still depends on a few key things happening;

1) Will Governor Martin O’Malley accept this map as it is written? If he does and presents it to the General Assembly it will become law unless another map is passed by the chambers. That seems unlikely since both presiding officers served as members of the committee that drew this map.

2) If Martin O’Malley does send this map to the General Assembly, will there be enough blow back to pass another map?

3) Will this map stand up in court? From all appearances it will and no one has raised any serious legal questions to the map since it was released last week.

Governor O’Malley will hear comments concerning this map during a public hearing on December 22nd at 10AM in the Legislative Services Building at 90 State Circle in the Joint Hearing Room in Annapolis, MD 21401. Those requesting to speak may sign up in advance by clicking here. To review the map for yourself click here.

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BREAKING NEWS: Governor’s Redistricting Committee Releases Legistive Redistricting Maps w/ More Majoriy Black Districts

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The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee (GRAC) released the following press statement in announcing new legislative districts with 2 more majority black districts than the current 10. We have yet to review the maps but the full statement is below.

Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Andrew Ratner, 410-767-4544 Cell (410) 340-7230John Coleman, (410) 767-4614 For an Adobe Acrobat version of this press release,click here.    Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee Recommends Maryland Legislative Redistricting Plan       Public Hearing to be Held on December 22nd at 10:00 a.m.     ANNAPOLIS, MD (Friday, December 16, 2011) – The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee (GRAC) released today its unanimous recommendations for Maryland’s state legislative district boundary lines. The Governor and the Committee invite the public to comment on the recommendations during a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Joint Hearing Room, Legislative Services Building, in Annapolis, Maryland. The map recommended by GRAC directly reflects the demographics of the State, the population trends that have occurred over the past decade, and the extensive public comments that the Committee heard from hundreds of Marylanders in 12 public hearings across the State, and in written comments. “Throughout this process, the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee made an extraordinary effort to take into account the many concerns and comments from experts and citizens from across Maryland,” said Secretary Jeanne Hitchcock. “As chair of the Committee, I believe the map we are submitting to the Governor accurately reflects the population shifts and the diversity of Maryland.” “This map is a fair and balanced proposal,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. “The Commission faced the very difficult task of taking into account the many recommendations we heard from counties, towns, communities and local elected officials and we did our very best to address their concerns while also remaining in full compliance with federal and State law.” “The Committee has worked diligently to create a fair map that incorporates the public testimony, adheres to the Voting Rights Act, adjusts for population and demographic shifts and respects county and municipal boundaries,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “I am confident this map reflects the changing face of Maryland and ensures every Marylander will have a voice in Annapolis.” GRAC began its work based on the current legislative district map, drawn by the Maryland Court of Appeals in 2002. The Committee was guided by State and federal Constitutional and legal provisions, and has produced a product that enhances minority voting rights, pays exceptional attention to respecting natural and political boundaries, and results in districts that are compact, contiguous, and protect communities. Specifically: The GRAC map has 12 districts that are majority African American – an increase from the 10 districts that the Court of Appeals drew in 2002. This reflects the growth in African American population in the State, and provides a much stronger voice for the African American community. These districts are 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47. In addition to the 12 majority African American districts, the map has 4 districts (20, 21, 28, 39) that are majority minority. For the first time in Maryland’s history, GRAC recommends the creation of a single-member Hispanic district in Prince George’s County, District 47B, which is over 63% Hispanic. In addition, the Committee proposes as an option for public comment the creation of a 50% Hispanic single-member district in Montgomery County (18A). While this recognizes the increased Hispanic population in Montgomery County, the Committee has concerns about the ability of the sub-district to elect a Hispanic candidate and, equally importantly, the impact of the creation of the sub-district on the remainder of the district (18B), which would be 68% white. This option can be found here Planning.Maryland.gov/Redistricting. The GRAC map reduces to 13 the number of county crossings, from 14 in the map drawn by the Court of Appeals in 2002. In order to preserve African American voting strength, GRAC recommends drawing District 44 as a district that consists of a single-member district in Baltimore City, and a double-member district in Baltimore County. GRAC also went to great lengths to respect municipal boundaries, and did not recommend any new splits of municipalities. GRAC’s recommendations treat all regions of the State, and both political parties, fairly. GRAC’s recommendations were well informed by the public testimony that we received across the State. The recommended map reflects what we heard from people across the State, as evidenced by the following examples: Communities across the State were united into a district, such as Pikesville, Montgomery Village, Aberdeen, and Camp Springs. The Maryland City area of Anne Arundel County was included in District 32, a northwest Anne Arundel district, significantly enhancing the minority vote in that region. And one of the crossings in the map was done specifically to keep Mt. Airy, a municipality that is in Carroll and Frederick Counties, together. Carroll County will have a Senate district that is wholly in the County, District 5. By eliminating many crossings in Western Maryland, the Committee was able to eliminate several sub-districts, while preserving sub-districts that recognize large incorporated areas, such as Frederick and Hagerstown. On the Eastern Shore, Caroline County has sufficient population in District 36 to compete for a Delegate from Caroline. The significant African American community in Harford County’s District 34A has been kept together. District 44 encompasses African American communities in the Baltimore region, recognizing the population trends that have occurred over the past decade and preserving African American representation. GRAC is pleased to present these recommendations, and looks forward to hearing public comment on the proposal. The recommended map clearly complies with the letter and spirit of federal and State Constitutional and legal provisions. GRAC was created on July 4, 2011 by Governor Martin O’Malley. The Honorable Jeanne Hitchcock served as Chair, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, The Honorable James J. King, and Richard Stewart served on the Committee # # #

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New Ivey website published, but is it ready for primetime?

Former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey revealed his campaign website for his bid to unseat Rep. Donna Edwards in Congress. The site leaves a lot to be desired.

The Glenn Ivey for Congress website http://www.iveyforcongress.com

• The framework of the site is smooth and appealing, but lacks the natural congressional campaign theme of images of the candidate around the district. Ivey is a former State’s Attorney so he has to have those images.
• The banner Glenn Ivey for Congress looks cheap, unimpressive, and not very inspiring.
• The type print is very small and the pages seem very wordy.
• It is always a bad idea to have a latest news section on your website if you have no new news.
• None of the buttons and we do mean none of them work on the campaign website. Including the donation button.
• The Contact Page doesn’t include any information to contact the campaign with questions or reach out to get involved.
• None of the social media pages are online but the site makes aware that Ivey plans to use iveyforcongress as his twitter and facebook handle. If I’m Donna Edwards I’d scope them up now before he does.
• The major thing the site is missing is the why. Ivey has failed to explain why he is challenging the state’s only female member of the house delegation.

Now we’ve told you our point of view, you tell us what you think about the site iveyforcongress.com in the comment box below or on twitter or facebook.

Glenn Ivey announced earlier this month that he would in fact challenge the two-term Democrat from Prince George’s County in the April Democratic primary after she was unable to prevent a shift in her district during the redistricting process.

Edwards won her seat in 2008 after knocking out her former boss Al Wynn in the Democratic Primary. She was reelected in 2010 defeating former Delegate Herman Taylor of Montgomery County. Glenn Ivey is the former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney. He left office in 2010 after flirting with running for County Executive and then the House of Representatives.

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Donna Edwards turns up the heat on Montgomery County legislators

Screen shot of Rep. Edward's email

As the Governor’s proposed redistricting map moves to the House of Delegates today, Rep. Donna Edwards, the lone member of the congressional delegation to publicly oppose it, is ramping up pressure on Montgomery County legislators to support an alternative map she proposed. Under Gov. O’Malley’s map Edwards would lose all of Montgomery County that is currently in her district. Edwards and other black lawmakers blasted that plan saying it would undermine the growing minority population.

To make her point more clear Edwards launched an online petition today targeting legislators from Montgomery County asking them to support her plan in an email to supporters.

Dear Friends,

The Maryland Senate passed the redistricting plan Monday night, and the House of Delegates is expected to vote today.  It is important to make your voice heard.

From Change.org:

Sign Petition and Support the Amendment to Congressional Redistricting Bill SB1

Why this is Important

SB1, the redistricting plan passed by the Maryland Senate is unfair to Montgomery County residents, especially those living in diverse East County neighborhoods like Silver Spring, Burtonsville and Briggs Chaney. These neighborhoods will be placed into an oddly shaped congressional district that stretches all the way to neighborhoods north of Baltimore City. An alternative is available that is fairer and will allow more Montgomery County residents to keep the same local congressional representation that they depend on. I urge you to support the amendment to SB1 and look forward to your response.

Click here to sign this petition and send an email to the Montgomery County delegation showing your support.

The House of Delegates is expected to approve the governor’s plan between today and tomorrow. Both chambers are expected to pass the final version by the end of the week.

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Monday makes for busy day in politics

Busy day in Maryland Politics today.

The Maryland General Assembly will convene in a special session at 9AM to review and pass congressional and school board redistricting maps.

Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Mike Miller, and House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch will hold a press conference to introduce the governor’s final redistricting plan. If the General Assembly fails to introduce and pass their own plan the governor’s draft will automatically become law.

The Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee will join with GOP leaders to introduce their own congressional redistricting plan at noon also in Annapolis.

The Prince George’s County Council will meet as the District Council to review zoning decisions.

The county council will attempt to find a compromise between Executive Baker and the volunteer firefighters over plans to reorganize the Fire Commission.

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County Council to introduce own redistricting plan for districts

The Prince George’s County Council is preparing to reject a redistricting plan approved by their appoint commission this summer and introduce their own plan for consideration in a public hearing set for Tuesday, October 11th at 10AM.

Under county law the council has until the last day of November to either introduce and pass their own plan, as it is rumored they will do, or pass the plan submitted by the Redistricting Commission. If the council fails to approve a plan by the end of November, the recommendation submitted by the commission will automatically become law.

Click here to view the council agenda for Tuesday, October 11th

Click here to view the report of the Redistricting Commission

In other important news—

The Committee of the Whole, a committee of the county council made up of all of the members, will take up a bill by Council Vice-Chair Eric Olson to amend the charter making it easier to ensure republican representation on the redistricting commission. This year the commission is made up of three members, all democrats, because the republicans failed to get more than fifteen percent of the vote in the 2010 council elections. Under the current charter the county council was not required to give them the two seats they would have been able to have. If Olson’s amendment passes and wins approval on the ballot next year, should this happen again the party with the next highest percentage of registered voters, the republicans, would get at least one seat on the commission. The text of his bill can be read here.

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Governor’s Redistricting Commission Map Leaked

The blogs Maryland Juice and Red Maryland both obtained leaked copies of the proposed maps Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to release today and we embed the presentation below. Special notes for Prince George’s County, Steny Hoyer will not give up parts of his district to the first congressional district and Donna Edwards will give up her Montgomery County areas and instead represent parts of Ann Arundel.

Check out the entire presentation by clicking here.