The Calvert County Commissioners took the first step toward a possible redistricting today, asking the staff to make initial inquiries as to the process itself.
During the regular Tuesday meeting, the board approved action on a grant request to aid owners of homes endangered by erosion at Calvert Cliffs, and discussed again the question of awarding more county contracts to local businesses.
The redistricting discussion came during the informal pre-meeting work session.
“Would it require state legislative approval to change the legislative districts?” asked Commissioner Jerry Clark (R-1st). “What is the process and the timeline?”
Redistricting is considered every ten years following the national census, even though the commissioners, even those representing a particular district, have always run at large.
That is not required, however. In some counties, commissioners are elected from districts with none running at large. Others use a mix, with some elected from districts and the rest at large. A past redistricting in Calvert resulted in the number of commissioners increasing from three to the present five. That number could increase again — or not.
Commissioner President Susan Shaw (R-2nd) said past practice has been to appoint a citizen committee which would make recommendations to the commissioners. After the commissioners vote on which, if any, recommendations to approve, “That would go to the legislature. I don’t think the legislature will care all that much what we do internally.”
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