In response to a 2020 ballot initiative, Montgomery County’s Redistricting Commission will draw two brand-new Councilmanic districts for a total of seven (plus the four at-large seats). Those seven districts must have relatively equal population, taking into account compactness, contiguity, minority representation, and preservation of political subdivisions and community landmarks.

Two of the Commission’s four Democratic members will be our speakers: Valerie Ervin and Sam Statland. Valerie was the first African-American woman to be elected to the County Council. A former School Board member, she currently works for the Prince George’s County Public Schools. Sam is a former member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, a former chair of the County’s Board of Elections, and a current member of the County’s Public Election Funding Board.