Perhaps the district map debate hasn?t died after all.
Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Carroll County, sent a letter Tuesday to Sen. Paula Hollinger, D-Baltimore County, chairwoman of the committee that considers Carroll?s legislation, asking that a district map bill be considered during the General Assembly?s special session next week.
The proposal would delineate five commissioner districts for this fall?s election.
In the last legislative session, a bill codifying five commissioner districts passed the House, and on the last day possible, it passed the Senate committee, but was killed before it made it to the Senate floor for voting.
Since the purpose of the special session is to hash out a more palatable BGE electricity rate increase, Kittleman said the chance is slim that Hollinger will have her Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee meet to pass local legislation.
“I?m not optimistic, but I certainly hope she?ll do it,” Kittleman said.
Brian Bailey, one of Hollinger?s staff members, said the senator?s full schedule will keep her from reviewing the letter, which was hand-delivered to her Annapolis office, until today.
Only old bills, not new legislation, can be considered during special sessions, said Lisa McMurray, spokeswoman for Senate President Thomas Mike Miller.
Getting a map in place has been a roller-coaster ride, observers and lawmakers have said.
The process has been fraught with disagreement about which map would decide districts, a failed bill, a lawsuit against the county Board of Elections, two subsequent appeals and the Court of Appeals? decision last week.
In a one-page decision, the court said that only the state legislature has the power to determine commissioner districts, ordering that the government format of three commissioners elected countywide stay in place this November ? unless a special session was called.
“I?m not surprised at anything anymore,” said county Board of Elections President Patricia Masko.
