Home Rule Charter

Posted for a subscriber.


Cecil County is about to consider a Home Rule Charter that will change our
form of government. A Committee has been hard at work on this for the past
year, and have done a great job. But the voters may be unaware of a signal
change in how we will elect our future representatives. The panel is
considering a “by-district” representation model, rather than the “at-large”
model that we have now for our County Commissioners. This initiative would
limit voters to voting only within their district. This is a signal change
that would limit voters to voting only within their district. Presently,
voters may vote for *all *Commissioner candidates, who must reside within
their respective districts.



If you are a republican in a democratic district, or vice versa, you will be
disenfranchised, (unless you can be gerrymandered into a different district)
because you will have no other opportunity to make your voice heard among
the commissioners. You may now vote for all five commissioners. You will
lose that franchise under a by-district scheme. Under the by-district model,
you may only vote for your local candidate



If you like the partisan squabbles in Washington and the earmarks for
special favors then you’ll appreciate the advantages of by-district
parochialism. This will be a tempting situation for a big money interest to
dominate a local contest. I would prefer a county legislative body whose
interests serve the entire county, not just their district.



By-district representation offers increased local representation to address
local concerns in the larger County forum. But the cost will be less voice
for voters outside their own district. I’d like to see more public
discussion of this proposal before it is adopted.



We are governed collectively, and I would prefer to have a voice in the
election of *all* our representatives, not just the one in my district. It’s
not broken. Don’t fix it.