A former member of the county districting committee filed an appeal in Carroll County Circuit Court Monday in an effort to overturn a recent ruling delineating five commissioner districts in the county.
Joseph Getty of Manchester said he disagreed with Circuit Court Judge Michael Galloway, who ruled April 19 in favor of a map supported by the districting committee and the commissioners.
Getty said another map endorsed by the county?s delegation to the General Assembly should have been selected instead.
“This is a separation of powers issue,” Getty said. “The Board of Elections has no power to create districts, and while the court does have the power to intervene, it must give deference to the delegation.”
Getty is the policy director for Gov. Robert Ehrlich, but he said he filed the motion as a private citizen. He also served as Carroll County delegate from 1995 to 2002.
Last week, James Harris of Westminster filed a separate appeal in the Circuit Court.
He told The Examiner that the citizens ? through their elected representatives ? should have been able to decide which map would determine voting districts.
Carroll voters approved the five commissioners districts in a referendum in 2004.
Richard Murray, attorney for the Board of Elections, could not be reached for comment.
“I?ll pursue an expedited decision in the Court of Special Appeals so that there?s still time for people to file [for the commissioners? race],” Getty said.
The deadline for residents to file their candidacies for county offices is 9 p.m. July 3.
