Redistricting Map Becomes Law

More of Elkridge will become part of District 2 as of Friday.

County Executive Ken Ulman did not sign into law a map that the County Council approved, meaning that a map proposed by the Redistricting Commission last October will go into effect on Friday. That map moves parts of Elkridge and Ellicott City that had been in District 1 into District 2, which is otherwise mostly Columbia.

“After much consideration, I have determined that , amended and adopted by a narrow margin, does not improve upon the map produced and recommended last year by the Councilmanic Redistricting Commission,” Ulman said in a statement.

Courtney Watson (D-District 1) and Calvin Ball (D-District 2) were the two who did not vote for the council's map, which primarily impacted their districts.

Ball said during a work session on Jan. 28 that the Redistricting Commission was tasked with creating the map, not the council.

"I think there's a reason we appointed a commission," said Ball. "If we make dramatic changes to this map that have never been discussed in a public forum, we run the risk of certain folks not even knowing that certain things are under consideration."

In fact, Elkridge residents were incensed that the council's amended plans, which it proposed in February, were .

Ulman agreed, stating in a press release that the commission’s map was “better for the county as a whole.”