A hearing was held this week on a bill that would amend Maryland’s constitution to try to provide every county a resident delegate. Currently, Caroline County is the only county in the State that does not have a resident representative. Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, the lead sponsor of the bill, called it an issue of fairness and in testimony told the House Rules Committee that having a resident delegate is “a fundamental principle of representative democracy”. She also added that with an election and a census coming up, this is a good time to pass the bill. Delegate Michael Smigiel and Delegate Dick Sossi, who are cosponsors of the legislation, also testified in favor of the bill.

The concept has broad bipartisan support in Caroline County. Representatives of both the Republican and Democrat Central Committees spoke in support as well as two Caroline County Commissioners. No one testified in opposition.