ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Six citizens were appointed to the Emergency Commission on the Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering by Governor Larry Hogan Thursday.
The commission is charged with working out new boundaries for Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District. A recent court ruling by the United Stats District Court of Maryland mandates the district be redrawn prior to the 2020 election. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh is currently appealing the decision.
The district was long home to Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett, but new lines were drawn prior to the 2012 election that helped create a district Democrat John Delaney could win. Delaney remains the district’s representative.
The commission has nine total members – three registered Democrats, three registered Republicans, and three members not affiliated to either political party. Their process is meant to be open and transparent, and all of the commission’s meetings must be open to the public and live-streamed, according to a press release issued by Hogan’s office.
The six new citizen members are:
- Maury S. Epner, Esq. (R), a federal prosecutor and 30-year resident of the Sixth District
- Deborah Lundahl (R), a member of the Frederick County Ethics Commission
- Christopher Howard (D), an Anne Arundel County resident and software engineer
- Luis T. Gutierrez, Jr. (D), a Montgomery County resident with 20 years experience in the biopharmaceutical and medical technology industry
- Matthew Douglas, Esq., (unaffiliated), a Montgomery County resident and senior policy analyst for the Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Kathleen Jo Parson Tabor, Esq. (unaffiliated), a Howard County resident and solo practicing attorney
These six members join three appointments Hogan made in November:
- Judge Alexander Williams (D)
- Walter Olson (R), co-chair
- Ashely Oleson (unaffiliated), co-chair
“Free and fair elections are the very foundation of American democracy and the most basic promise that those in power can pledge to the citizens we represent,” Hogan said in a statement. “This nonpartisan redistricting commission will result in a fair, open, and transparent redistricting process for the sixth congressional district.”
