By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
The Baltimore County Council on Sept. 15 approved a redistricting map with amendments from Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka (D-District 2) and Council Chair Michael P. Ertel (D-District 6). The map was passed by a 5-2 vote.
“It really creates an opportunity to have three minority members join this council in 2026,” said Patoka.
The current council has only one Black member, Councilman Julian E. Jones (D-District 4).
The new map creates two majority Black districts and a minority-majority district made up of voters who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) on the west side of Baltimore County. The new lines make way for the increase of the county council districts from seven to nine, which will go into effect during the 2026 election year. The increase in districts was approved by the voters via a ballot question in 2024. The approval of an increase in the number of seats on the Baltimore County Council and districts in the area prompted the creation of the 2025 Redistricting Commission, which provided recommendations, a final report and a proposed map to the council on June 17.
For weeks leading up to the final decision, there has been tense debate around where the new lines would be drawn and calls for equitable representation for the minorities in the county that make up around 48 percent of the population.
Prior to this meeting, residents and leaders of Baltimore County’s east side called for a minority-majority district in their portion of the county, saying it would ensure Black voters in that area have voting power.
Nehemiah Bester, a communications strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU), said the only redistricting plan that reflects community input, interest and creates a fair and representative map is the 2025 Redistricting Commission’s version.
The proposed map from the commission called for two majority-minority, or BIPOC, districts on the east side and on the west side respectively.
Ertel opposed the commission’s decisions regarding the minority-majority districts and the majority-Black districts, saying that they would produce slim majorities and split up communities such as Randallstown, Woodlawn, Essex and Middle River.
“There’s only so much we can do to create some of this opportunity,” said Ertel in response to demand from some community members. “It just feels like no matter what we do there is no good answer here.”
Ertel said the council was not convinced that the commission’s proposed map would create better opportunities for minority candidates.
The council meeting, held at 6 p.m., drew in dozens anxious to see whether there would be a final vote on the map that day. Tensions were high as members of the community voiced their satisfaction and dissatisfaction with various motions and comments made by the council members during the debate.
There was also notable tension between Jones, Patoka and Councilman David S. Marks (R-District 5) throughout the process.
“My constituents are asking me to stand here and defend their communities,” said Jones, who voted against the map. “My constituents did not ask you to bring the intersection of Liberty road and Rolling road and make that the intersection for three different districts.”
There were many amendments introduced during the meeting, but only two were passed. Councilman Pat Young’s (D-District 1) amended map was defeated by a 4-3 vote. Jones motioned to delay the final vote, which Young agreed with, but it was ultimately defeated. Jones’ version of the map also failed by a 4-3 vote.
There is a potential for a lawsuit against the newly confirmed map from the ACLU, but it has not yet been confirmed.