'OAKLAND — Garrett County, along with Allegany and Washington, made national headlines in the past week when lawmakers released letters requesting that Western Maryland become part of West Virginia.
Since that time, though, members of the group have withdrawn their support of the proposal.
The Republican lawmakers included state Sen. George Edwards and Delegates Wendell Beitzel, Jason Buckel, Mike McKay and William Wivell.
Letters were sent Oct. 5 and Oct. 14 to West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, asking “that you consider adding us as constituent counties to the State of West Virginia. We believe this arrangement may be mutually beneficial for both states and for our local constituencies.”
The five Maryland legislators traveled to Charleston, W.Va., in September to discuss the matter, and were reportedly told that a letter requesting the move would be required to start the process. Speaking to The New York Times, Beitzel said there is a “strong sense of unrest and unhappiness among people in our rural area of the state,” and that constituents have been asking to secede from Maryland for years.
He cited fracking, mask mandates and the teaching of racial issues in schools as topic of concern to local residents, the newspaper reported.
However, on Oct. 22 — the day after the announcement — Buckel wrote a letter that also was signed by Edwards which withdrew their support.
“I believe that our intentions have been misconstrued, and that in fact the entire effort may be foolhardy,” the letter stated. “While this letter reflects only my own perspective, Sen. Edwards and I have communicated that he shares my ultimate conclusion and would similarly withdraw any participation in any further efforts in this process.”'>>>
https://www.wvnews.com/garrettrepublican/news/support-withdrawn-for-western-maryland-secession/article_0e3ae192-3750-11ec-9284-2f74a7930dbc.html
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