Anne Arundel County Fair

New political action committee sets sights on fair redistricting maps for ...

LANDOVER Trevor Otts doesn�t want a repeat of the last time political boundaries were redrawn in Maryland.

The 2002 legislative redistricting plan submitted by the General Assembly faced multiple lawsuits and was ruled unconstitutional by the state�s highest court, which redrew the lines.

As the state and other governmental entities prepare to begin the once-a-decade process, Otts, who owns a business consulting firm and lives in Fort Washington, is chairing a political action committee that aims to ensure proposed districts reflect Prince George�s County�s majority minority population.

�Primarily, we want to make sure the needs of the community are not being superseded by the needs of a politician to get re-elected,� he said Wednesday after a sparsely attended meeting of the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee.

The PAC, which is named after the voting rights activist and civil rights leader in Mississippi, is focused solely on ensuring fairness with the lines that are to be drawn in Prince George�s County.

It plans to propose detailed maps for the congressional reapportionment next month and will do the same for legislative districts at a later date. The PAC already has drafted some broad guidelines, such as suggesting three predominantly minority congressional districts (4, 7 and 8) and packing many of the rural jurisdictions into the 1st Congressional District.

�It makes no sense for us to go in and argue about something we don�t like if we can�t present something we do like,� said Carletta Fellows, an Upper Marlboro resident who is serving as the PAC�s consultant.

The group, which is working with the NAACP�s Legal Defense Fund, also has developed a general outline for legislative redistricting. It has conceived seven legislative districts that would all be within Prince George�s borders. Currently, two of the county�s eight legislative districts spill into neighboring jurisdictions. As a result, the voices of voters in those districts District 21, which crosses into Anne Arundel County, and 27, which includes the northern half of Calvert County who live in Prince George�s are diluted, Otts said.

�It�s a simple concept. What we�re really saying is, �Prince George�s first,�� he said. �What it really boils down to is the lines have to make sense.�

�The goal of legislative redistricting should be to cross as few political jurisdictions as possible,� added Fellows. �Montgomery County should be whole, Prince George�s County should be whole, and the city of Baltimore should be whole.

Annapolis Wireless » Blog Archive » VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Fair is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization bringing family entertainment, competition and education to people of all ages in Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas. See web site at www.aacountyfair.org. Volunteers, age 21 and up, are needed for a variety of positions during the Fair and year round. Contact 410-923-3400 or info@aacountyfair.org to volunteer and visit web site at www.aacountyfair.org. Annual “Camp Airways” at Woods Presbyterian Church, Severna Park for children with asthma, ages 6 – 12. Junior counselor volunteers, age 15 and older, are needed to help with everyday activities and must be available to attend the camp for the entire week. Responsibilities include serving as a “camp buddy” for two assigned campers, assisting with arts & crafts, swimming, other outdoor activities, and more. Volunteers must provide their own transportation. Applications may be downloaded from the web site at mybwmc.org & are due no later than July 5, 2011. For more information contact Sandy Thomas at sthomas@mwmc.umms.org or 410-787-4484. Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization of dedicated volunteers helping to promote, protect and enhance the multi-modal trails of Anne Arundel County. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available for those willing to give a few hours a month, and both individuals and groups of volunteers are welcome. For more information call 410-695-1137or e-mail friendsofaatrails@gmail.com. See web site at: http://www.friendsofaatrails.org/. At the Sanctuary, children and adults collect water samples, clear trails, weigh turtles, guide visitors on nature walks, draw maps, lead canoe trips, make posters, seine for fish, host the Visitor Center on weekends, and more. For more information and for specific opportunities unless otherwise noted below, contact Lindsay Hollister at 410-741-9330, or send e-mail to volunteers@jugbay.org. Check the website at: http://www.jugbay.org . 7:00 am–10:00 pm, Jun. 18, 2011, Stream Blitz: This day-long research event is designed to put outdoor enthusiasts in the field with experts on varying topics for a day of fun and learning. Birds, plants, salamanders and more will be identified as participants travel in and along our three study streams. We are located in southern AA County at 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, 20711. Call 410-741-9330 for more information or to sign up.

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