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Be Sure To Read Bill Evans' "Do The Math" About
This
The Capital 12/19/01:
Commission mulls more members By KIMBERLY MARSELAS, Staff Writer Kent Island would get two of five districts under a measure proposed yesterday to expand the Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners. The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Marlene F. Davis, D-Queenstown, follows a straw poll held during the 2000 general election. In the non-binding results, two-thirds of county voters said they favored a larger board and district-based voting. "A lot of people after a year, they don't even remember what they voted for," said Commissioner John T. McQueeney Jr., R-Stevensville. "But we don't want anyone to be able to say we didn't listen to them." A committee appointed by the commissioners spent much of the last year studying different options and reported its findings last month. The report offered three redistricting options, and the resolution introduced by Ms. Davis favors boundaries heavily weighted toward Kent Island and the more populous parts of the county. Commissioners are currently elected at-large. The districts it would create include:
Commissioners would be elected from the districts where they live and a fifth at-large commissioner would serve as president. With about 42,000 residents, the commissioners now represent 14,000 constituents. The districts would each include about 8,400 residents. Some Kent Island residents have complained that three at-large commissioners don't effectively represent the entire county. Others, like Del. Wheeler Baker, D-Chester, were concerned that residents of more rural north county could be neglected as other parts of the county continue to grow. Mr. Baker was behind last year's straw poll, but could not be reached for comment. Mike Koval, vice president of the Kent Island Defense League, said more commissioners are needed to tackle all of the development requests coming in to the county. "By the looks of things, three people can be easily overwhelmed," he said yesterday. "Going to five might serve us better." Two other committees have studied Queen Anne's form of government in the last decade, but both times the members recommended continuing with the system used now. During a recess from their meeting yesterday in Centreville, the commissioners said a larger board might not necessarily benefit the county. Ms. Davis said a larger commission would increase salary expenses and administrative costs. "It's my opinion that this is very political," Mr. McQueeney said. "We know our job better than anyone else, and if I needed help I'd be the first one to ask." The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the issue Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in Queenstown. Published December 19,
2001,
The
Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Be Sure To Read Bill Evans' "Do The Math" About
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