Regardless of its origin, purpose or outcome.
Put another way, it's reasonable to admire, for example, a criminal's style while condoning the crime.
This particular genius occurs all over this great land of the free but it has a little personal significance for me as I lived in the area for a while.
(hometownannapolis.com) The state redistricting plan proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley is getting mixed reviews around the state and parts of Anne Arundel County.
Some feel it could give north county residents better representation at the state level, and increase the chances for minority candidates. Others think it is unnecessary political maneuvering.
What's clear is that Del. Don Dwyer, a conservative Republican, won't run in a new, more racially diverse district centered in Glen Burnie.
The three-term delegate confirmed this week that he has moved out of his longtime home in Harundale and now lives in Pasadena.
Dwyer said he moved for "personal reasons" and declined to elaborate.
The Republican delegate also restated his intention to run for the District 31 senate seat in 2014, creating an open seat in the new subdistrict.
Dwyer, however, said in a guest column running today in the Maryland Gazette, sister paper of The Capital, that he has little doubt about the motives for the new district.
"After reviewing the new district map, it is clear that I was targeted by the Democrats to be eliminated from the State House," he wrote.
"Some might ask why was I targeted - the truth is that I have been a thorn in the side of the Democrats in Annapolis since first arriving there in 2003.
House Speaker Mike Busch, D-Annapolis, said the new districts are designed to group similar communities together. Under the proposal, the state would carve up subdistricts to ensure that more groups get a say in choosing their lawmakers, he said.
One of the more prominent changes would occur in District 31, which is comprised of Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie and Pasadena. The district would be split in two, with northern portions making up a newly created District 31A and southern portions making up a newly created District 31B.
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the area designated as District 31A was 66.4 percent white, 22.2 percent black, 3.5 percent Asian and roughly 8 percent other races. In what would be District 31B, the population was 88.4 percent white, 5.8 percent black, 2.1 percent Asian and nearly 4 percent other races.
Dwyer's family home is in what is likely to become District 31A, where the percentage of black residents would double the 11 percent of black residents found in what is now District 31. Black residents tend to vote for Democrats.
Residents of District 31A would be guaranteed one delegate under O'Malley's proposal.
Anne Arundel County NAACP Chapter President Jacqueline Boone-Allsup, who would reside in District 31A, said she supports the plan.
"I think it's a good plan that they are putting forth," she said. "One of the things it does do is increase the (percentage) of African Americans in my district. The African-American population has increased to almost 25 percent, where it was much lower in the past. I think overall this is a really good plan. It strengthens the African-American population in my part of the county."
The Rev. Larry Lee Thomas, of Empowering Believers Church of the Apostolic Faith in Glen Burnie, said he also supports the proposal. His church and many of his congregation members are located in what would be District 31A.
Thomas hopes the redistricting, if passed, leads voters to elect a minority to the House of Delegates.
"Either way, we are encouraging minorities to continue to look for viable candidates to run that would represent our community," he said.
Opposes plan
Alan Rzepkowski, chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican State Central Committee, opposes O'Malley's plan.
"There doesn't seem to be a reason for it, other than for political purposes," he said.
Rzepkowski said redistricting would make it more difficult for a Republican to win in District 31A, but not impossible.
"I think it's going to make it tougher, but good Republican candidates will win in Anne Arundel County," he said. "They can try to change the map as much as they want, but we will continue to put up good candidates and we'll continue to be successful."
Along with the changes planned in District 31, the proposal would include the Maryland City area in District 32, significantly enhancing the minority vote in that area. The district, the last solid Democratic district in the county, already includes Severn, Hanover, Linthicum, parts of Glen Burnie and Fort George G. Meade.
The population of District 32 would be 57.1 percent white, 29.2 percent black, 5.8 percent Asian and nearly 8 percent other races.
"District 32 is a tough district for Republicans and always has been," Rzepkowski said. "We've had some success, but they continue to make it more difficult for us."
Strong criticism
Redistricting proposals elsewhere in the state, specifically proposals to increase the number of minority-majority districts from 10 to 12, have received extensive criticism from Republicans who claim the districts were drawn to increase a Democratic stronghold on state politics.
O'Malley plans to submit his final plan to the General Assembly on Wednesday, the first day of the 90-day session in Annapolis.
Any conjecture as to what "personal reasons" Dwyer had for moving are nothing more than conjecture.
And whether or not Dwyer deserves to be brush slapped with the inevitable "all politicians are crooks, et al" tar is a matter for personal opinion and/or the voting booth and/or a court of law.
But even if he is a criminal, he is, in my humble o, deserving of props for playing the game as well and ably as those who would steal his gig out from under him by simply, and brilliantly, eliminating the gig by simply, and brilliantly, redefining the gig.
When it comes to pristine, exquisite uncomplicated genius of the evil variety, the mischievous little scamp behind these baby greens believes you can't do much better than the evil genius of this "re-districting" thing.
If the outcome of the game looks to be not exactly what you had in mind, just redraw the lines on the playing field.
Brilliant.
Genius.
And if Indianapolis had been able to figure out a way to redraw the lines, they'd be going to the Super Bowl this year.
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