Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, December 26, 2001

с NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood, Suit* 304 Luffiervill*, Могу lend 21093 3 1 5 Cannon Houm Office Building Woffiington, D.C 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Henry Fawell Wednesday, December 26, 200 1 202/225-306 1 New Redistricting Map Leaves Many Marylanders Out in the Cold WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Ehrlich (MD-2) criticized the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee for submitting a state redistricting proposal that is both unfair and discriminatory to racial and political minorities in Maryland. Congressman Ehrlich stated, “The Governor’s map raises severe equal protection and civil rights questions, and is a clear indication that the current political establishment will continue to take the African-American vote for granted in Maryland. Despite significant growth in minority population over the past ten years, this proposal offers no real opportunity for increased representation for minorities in Maryland.” Specifically, under the proposed plan, there are no subdistricts used in Montgomery County to ensure minority representation, thereby ignoring the county’s 40% minority population, even though the proposal creates subdistricts throughout the state. Congressman Ehrlich also criticized the committee’s plan to sever Anne Arundel County into new, oddly shaped districts. Under the plan, the Dundalk area of Anne Arundel County, which is currently represented by two districts, would be broken into four districts, none of which are actually centered in Dundalk. Congressman Ehrlich continued, “The Dundalk plan is a concerted attempt to break up one of Maryland’s oldest and most proud communities by isolating the majority of the district from the very precincts in which their representatives reside.” The plan will be submitted to the Maryland General Assembly for approval on January 9, 2001. Unless the General Assembly can develop an alternative, the Governor’s plan will become law within 45 days.