Congressman visits Hagerstown; House Republican Caucus talks district maps
Credit: Herald Mail-Media, Michael D. Garcia
Trone visits Hagerstown
U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-6th District, made rounds in the Hagerstown area last week.
Trone met with the Washington County Arts Council about the impacts of COVID-19 on local, small businesses, specifically on art galleries and the artist community. He discussed American Rescue Plan funds and Hagerstown Regional Airport’s future needs with Airport Director Rick Johnson.
Trone also met with Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller and city staff to discuss infrastructure needs for three projects. The three projects highlighted were the widening of Professional Boulevard, the installation of the new Wastewater Pump Station 33 on Hebb Road and a new parking deck in downtown.
“All three of the projects discussed are essential for continued growth in our city,” Keller said in a news release.
House Republican Caucus responds to district maps
As Maryland’s state lawmakers neared final approval of the state’s new legislative maps, the House Republican Caucus urged them to consider two amendments created by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission.
One of the amendments would lay out a single-member district map, while the other amendment would replace the legislators’ plan with the final map drawn and approved by the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission.
“My Democratic friends and colleagues, you don’t need to rig the game to win here in the state of Maryland,” Del. Jason Buckel, R-Allegany, said in a news release. “The Citizens’ Commission map is fair and it is balanced, and it is what we should be moving forward with for the people of Maryland.”
The maps are expected to face legal challenges.
More names in the hat
Ashwani Jain, a former Obama administration official, has officially filed for governor alongside his running mate LaTrece Hawking Lyte.
Jain has worked at the White House and at the Department of Health and Human Services. He also served as director of outreach for the administration’s “cancer moonshot,” which was headed by then-Vice President Joe Biden.
U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-4th District, has filed for attorney general. He has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017 and has acted as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Martin O’Malley from 2007 to 2015.
Closer to home, Randy Wagner has filed for his second term as Washington County commissioner. He was first elected in 2018.
Ginger Bigelow, second vice chair of the county Republican Central Committee, will run for reelection.
Angela Yamashita, mentoring coordinator of Bold Futures, has filed for a seat on the county Democratic Central Committee.
