(3/28) Just when you thought this year’s primary couldn’t get more complicated, on March 15, The Court of Appeals of Maryland issued an Order, In the Matter of 2022 Legislative Districting of the State, moving the 2022 primary election from June 28 to July 19. The Order also amends certain deadlines for the Primary Election Calendar, including the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy, to Friday, April 15.
The Court Order is a result of multiple filings before the Court of Appeals claiming; "that the Democratic controlled Maryland Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission proposed legislative redistricting plan violates Maryland’s Constitution and Declaration of Rights because many of its legislative districts are the product of unlawful gerrymandering."
Under the Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission maps, District 4 which currently sends three Republican Delegates to Annapolis, will find itself divided. The northern communities of the County, comprised of Emmitsburg, Thurmont and Sabillasville, will be removed from District 4 and consolidated into the Washington County based District 2A.
In response, Governor Larry Hogan created the multi-partisan Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw up non-gerrymandered districts. Under Hogan’s plan, all northern Frederick County would be made into a single Delegate District 3B, mirroring the County Council District 5, which includes Emmitsburg, Thurmont, Lewistown, Woodsboro and Walkersville, and if approved, will give voters the option of three strong Republican candidates to choose from.
The candidate most affected by the current proposed State Delegate boundaries, is of course, the candidate from northern Frederick County and now finds himself in District 2A. William Valentine of Emmitsburg has no idea what District he will eventually be placed. With three filed Republican candidates, (William Valentine – Emmitsburg, Bradley Belmont – Hagerstown and Incumbent: William Wivell – Smithsburg) the District 2A primary for two delegate seats will be contested and one to watch.
Colt Black of Sabillasville has withdrawn from the Delegate race altogether and instead has filed to run against Jamie Raskin in the highly Democratic Maryland 8th Congressional District.
No matter the outcome of the Courts, Heath Barnes, Mayor of Woodsboro, will still be within District 4. If the court decides in favor of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission map, Heath Barnes, William Valentine and Incumbent Jesse Pippy will face off in the Republican primary for the one delegate seat allotted to northern Frederick County. If not, Barnes and Pippy will find themselves in a new Democratic voter rich District 4, making either’s path to Annapolis much more problematic.
While the State races are in chaos, Frederick County government races are beginning to take shape. In not an unexpected move, Michael Blue, who currently represents northern Frederick County in the County Council District 5, announced that he would be seeking a second term on the Council. Blue, owner/operator of Brownies Auto Service located in Walkersville, is the current County Council Vice President.
