Marks appoints Cluster to council examination task force

Fifth District County Councilman David Marks wrote an article about appointing former state delegate John Cluster to a task force to determine if  there is a need to expansion the Baltimore County Council from seven members.

Today, I am announcing that I will appoint former Delegate John W.E. Cluster, Jr., to the task force examining the structure of the Baltimore County Council.

The Council created the task force at its Oct. 16 legislative session.   Some activists have complained that the Council size does not reflect the county’s population and diversity; the task force will examine multiple aspects of the Council’s structure, including its size.

I am pleased to appoint former Delegate John W.E. Cluster, Jr., to the panel looking at the Council structure.  Delegate Cluster’s involvement will help ensure that there is political diversity on this task force.  He has also lived or represented communities across the Eastside.

Additionally, one of the priorities for this task force is to look at costs to the county, and I know Delegate Cluster will ask many questions about the mechanics and operations of a differently-sized County Council.

Delegate Cluster represented the Parkville and Perry Hall areas from 2003 to 2007, and again from 2011 to 2016.

He has served as a member of the Maryland Parole Commission since 2016.  He is a retired police sergeant and has been a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 since 1975.

Benjamin Joseph

Benjamin Joesph has covered news in Eastern Baltimore County since 2006. He started as a reporter with the original East County Times in 2006. He started East Baltco News and later Eastcountytimes.com in 2022.