January 29th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
A coalition of rural Maryland counties aiming to increase their clout in the General Assembly continues to grow, and the hope is that during the current session additionla counties will bring the number of voters represented to well above one million. The coalition, formed a year ago, now includes Allegany, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Kent, Somerset, Washington, and Wicomico Counties, representing 939,980 rural Maryland residents. Allegany County Commissioner Mike McKay chairs the Rural Maryland Coalition. He tells WCBC News that all too often rural counties find themselves at a strategic disadvantage from policy decisions made by the Maryland General Assembly because the nonrural counties often speak as one, thus prevailing. The purpose of the coalition in Annapolis is so rural Maryland's interests are strengthened and equated to the interests of nonrural Maryland. Although competing against Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties to be heard is a challenge- the coalition is being heard by lawmakers.
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