Bowie Prepares for Redistricting

More than 30 people discussed the impact of the 2010 Census on district alignments for federal, state and local political elections at the Bowie Memorial Library on Tuesday night. Because the Census provides an updated picture of the country’s population, district lines are moved to more appropriately divide voting power in the state.

The event, hosted by the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, was the first in a series aimed at educating residents of Prince George’s County about redistricting, which happens every 10 years after the release of information from the Census.

The FLH-PAC aims to “develop a progressive black political empowerment agenda for Prince George’s County, Maryland,” according to a statement from the organization. “This black political empowerment agenda will be reflected in maps and demographic data reflecting the African-American population in Prince George’s County.”

This year’s redistricting is a “unique opportunity” for minority voters, said speaker Mark Spencer, Inspector General of the Prince George’s County Police Department, because of the growing number of Majority-Minority counties in Maryland. According to the 2000 Census, Prince George’s was the only county to have a majority—73 percent—of minority residents.  In 2010, Montgomery and Charles Counties have joined Prince George’s and Baltimore City to become Majority-Minority jurisdictions.

This year’s redistricting will also have a significant impact on Prince George’s County and Bowie in particular due to the potential for significant changes to Maryland’s Congressional districts. Most of Bowie currently falls in District 5, represented by Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Due to population shifts within the state, the district’s boundaries could be reduced by approximately 46,000 people to reach the target population estimated by FLH-PAC. The target estimate is set by dividing the total state population by Maryland’s eight Congressional districts.

During the seminar, representatives of FLH-PAC encouraged those in attendance to become engaged in the redistricting process by attending public meetings and forming their own ideas for how they would like to see their areas’ lines drawn.

“Let’s be on the front end,” said speaker Carletta Fellows, who added that the FLH-PAC would be happy to bring its information to local community groups.

Springdale resident Nakia Ngwala said she intends to bring the information she learned back to the Civic Association of which she is president. Because Springdale is unincorporated, she and other members of the association often feel they are not given attention.

The FLH-PAC is “a great thing,” Ngwala said. “It’s engaging us in the process. … With drawing lines, where is Springdale going to be? What about us?”

Bowie Communications Coordinator Una Cooper indicated the City Council would also be getting involved in the process, saying it would “review the plan that is proposed and comment as appropriate.”

According to the FLH-PAC, redistricting for the federal congressional districts is led by the governor, the House of Delegates and the state Senate. The three groups have to agree to a plan by September 15, 2011.

Redistricting for the Maryland State Legislature is initiated by the governor and submitted to both the House of Delegates and the state Senate on January 11, 2012. If the General Assembly does not produce a substitute plan, the governor’s plan becomes effective February 29, 2012.

Prince George’s County’s Council Redistricting Commission, which is made up of three Democrats, the County Council and the County Executive must agree to a plan by December 1, 2011. In addition, for Bowie’s redistricting, the City Council’s staff must provide a plan to the Council by January 31, 2012, Cooper said.

Part two of the FLH-PAC seminar series is scheduled for June 15 at 6:30 p.m. at UFCW Local 400 in Landover.