Prince George's pols seek compact district
A boisterous roomful of Prince George's County political junkies and activists asked for a compact and contiguous congressional district when mapmakers redraw lines in October.
Though nuances differed -- a group with backing from the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund is making a push for three majority black congressional districts -- all speakers sought maps that keep Prince George's county represented by politicians on the western shore.
Sharon Taylor of Bowie Maryland said she does not want African Americans to be used as "filler" to help elect far flung congressional representatives. "Prince George's County can not be the sacrificial lamb," she said.
The sentiment was in step with Prince George's Republicans who argued for a member of congress who would live nearby. "I don't want to travel down yonder" to meet with a member of Congress, said Mykel Harris, the chair of the Prince George's GOP Central Committee.
Nobody testified in favor of a plan to stretch the Republican held first congressional district across the Chesapeake Bay to Prince George's -- and idea that could dilute the GOP support and make the district easier for a Democratic gain.
Though nuances differed -- a group with backing from the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund is making a push for three majority black congressional districts -- all speakers sought maps that keep Prince George's county represented by politicians on the western shore.
Sharon Taylor of Bowie Maryland said she does not want African Americans to be used as "filler" to help elect far flung congressional representatives. "Prince George's County can not be the sacrificial lamb," she said.
The sentiment was in step with Prince George's Republicans who argued for a member of congress who would live nearby. "I don't want to travel down yonder" to meet with a member of Congress, said Mykel Harris, the chair of the Prince George's GOP Central Committee.
Nobody testified in favor of a plan to stretch the Republican held first congressional district across the Chesapeake Bay to Prince George's -- and idea that could dilute the GOP support and make the district easier for a Democratic gain.
