Republicans Suffer Local Setbacks

With the County Executive race still too close to call (Leopold up by 344 votes) at least a few things are fairly clear:

In the District 21 Senate race, Jim Rosapepe handed incumbent Democrat turned Republican John Giannetti a resounding defeat (the Democrats previously held, and swept the 3 House seats).

In the District 30 Senate race, John Astle appears to have held his Senate seat, ousting challenger Herb McMillan in what had to be one of the nastiest races in the County. (The House race is still too close to call, though incumbents Mike Busch and Virginia Claggett look safe, and Barbara Samorajczyk leads the closest Republican, Ron George by about 500 votes). If Samorajczyk holds on, the Dems pick up one House seat here (McMillan's).

In the District 31 Senate race, Democrat Walt Shandrowsky leads an extremely tight race with Bryan Simonaire (this seat was previously held by Democrat Phil Jimeno). The District 31 House race is a mess, but current leaders are incumber Joan Cadden, and Republican challengers Steve Schuh and Nic Kipke (Republican incumbent Don Dwyer trails Kipke by 500 votes).

In the District 32 Senate race, Democrat Ed DeGrange cruised to re-election. The Democrats picked up one seat in the House, with former Councilwoman Pam Beidle knocking off Republican incumbent Terry Gilleland. Dems pick up one House seat.

In the District 33 Senate race, Republican incumbent Janet Greenip dispatched challenger Scott Hymes by almost the exact same margin she beat former County Executive, Bobby Neall in 2002. The Republicans will retain all three House seats.

Democrats Frank Weathersbee (State's Attorney) and Ron Bateman (Sheriff) appear to have won as well.

Early Primary Returns

With 37% of precincts reporting it looks like it may be possible to call several important races:

Looks like...

County Executive:
Democrat: George Johnson
Republican: John Leopold

Executive Forum Wrap-Up

On Thursday night, all seven candidates for County Executive took to the stage, and the airwaves, for the Political Forum at AACC. The event was very thorough, and well worth watching for anyone concerned about the future of Anne Arundel County. Sun coverage is here , the Capital coverage was Friday as well.

If you missed it the first time, you can catch the re-runs of the debate at the following times on Comcast channel 95.

Saturday 8/26 at 10 p.m.

Sunday 8/27 at 1 and 6 p.m.

Sept. 2 at 10 p.m.

Sept. 3 at 1 and 6 p.m.

Show Me the Money

The Capital and Sun both have articles on the latest fundraising reports filed by the County Executive candidates, but if you want to have some real fun, take a look for yourself at the Maryland Voter Information Clearinghouse, run by UMBC (with data filed from the State Board of Elections). See who has got his or her hooks into your favorite candidate for County Council, or which Senate candidate has the broadest base of support. I think you'll be surprised at how the same names come up over and over again.

The money on hand for each of the Exec. candidates is below:

George Johnson - $514,300
John Leopold - $412,000 (he has lent himself $200,000)
David Boschert - $302,000 (he has lent himself $240,000)
Dennis Callahan - $25,474
Tom Angelis - $15,977
Greg Nourse - $8,000
Phil Bissett - $15,951

County Executive News

Apparently, County Councilwoman Barbara Samorajczyk (D) has thrown her support behind George Johnson (D) in the County Executive race, declining to enter the race herself.

County Executive Warchest Update

Republican
John Leopold - $450,000 (almost half is loaned from himself)
Phil Bissett - $68,000
David Boschert - $14,000
Tom Angelis - $327
Greg Nourse - $500

Democrat
George Johnson - $612,000
Barbara D. Samorajczyk - $39,800
Dennis Callahan - $0

Bissett for Executive Redux

Ending months of suspense and speculation (not really), former Republican candidate for County Executive, and now current Republican candidate for County Executive, Phil Bissett filed his paperwork to run earlier this week. "It's a new year ... and we wanted to renew our effort to get our job done, to finish the job that we started four years ago," offered Bissett, inadvertently referring to the "job" of losing a tight race to Janet Owens in 2002.

Bissett was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1991-1999.

The race for Executive promises a crowded field, particularly on the Republican side, with Delegates John Leopold and David Boschert in the mix, as well as teacher Tom Angelis (another repeat entrant), and Gregory Nourse, a county school official.

George Johnson Picks Up Endorsements

County Executive candidate Sherriff George Johnson picked up a number of endorsements this week. Those endorsing him include: "state senators Philip C. Jimeno and James E. " Ed" DeGrange Sr. and former senator Al Lippin; delegates Mary Ann Love, Ted Sophocleus and Joan Cadden; County Council member Pamela G. Beidle and former council members Shirley Murphy, George Bachman and Dan Klosterman; and State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee."

Boschert Jumps Into the Mix

In a move that's been anticipated for some time, Delegate David Boschert (R) of Crownsville has officially entered the race for County Executive. With Boschert's entry, the Republican field becomes just a bit more crowded. The other Republicans running for the seat include: Del. John R. Leopold, Phillip D. Bissett, the 2002 party nominee for county executive, Tom Angelis, a Baltimore schoolteacher, and Gregory V. Nourse, an assistant superintendent for Anne Arundel County public schools.

Boschert wants to encourage the private sector to build a 13th county high school (presumably in his current district), which is interesting news given that the Capital just reported that "Schools are bursting at the seams in west county". Perhaps Boschert supports the rubble landfill for school extortion currently transpiring in Crofton. Neither article is clear on that point. What is clear though, is that the legislators "serving" the Crofton area have been asleep at the wheel for the past decade on this issue. Neither the County Council representation, Bill Burlison (7 years), nor the state legislature representation, Boschert (over 15 years), has brought this high school to Crofton. Despite the fact that that area has had a population boom in the past 20 years, and has needed a high school badly for the last 10.

This question goes to Burlison (who is running for US House), Boschert (who is running for Executive), and could easily be asked of Martin O'Malley as well: Why should we give politicians who haven't been able to take care of their constituents at the local level, the chance to fumble their way up the political ladder. Have we become guilty of promoting the Peter Principle among our pols?

The Courage to Make Promises You Can't Possibly Keep

Well, yesterday I was able to make an appearance at Sheriff Johnson's whistle stop tour through the County. The Sheriff was nicely coiffed, and certainly by Anne Arundel County standards, polished and well-spoken. He announced the official kick-off of his campaign for County Executive, and proceeded to regale the crowd with all sorts of inarguably desirable outcomes for the County, and by my unofficial count, 237 instances of the "courage" it would take from him and County residents to get there. Smaller class sizes (each under 30 students), cutting the fat from government, lower taxes, more green space preserved, and affordable housing. The only thing missing was a chicken and sizable tax rebate in each pot.

Lest I be accused of going too hard on the Sheriff, let me reject that charge. Each and every one of us needs to scrutinize the words and intentions of these pols running for Executive, or we'll be saddled with another inept "friendly face" presiding over the destruction our precious County for 4 more years. If you're sick of platitudes and promises, demand more.

County Executive Race Heats Up

Since the last update, Republican entrant Dirk Haire has dropped out, and has now been replaced by sitting State Delegate David Boschert. Boschert is reportedly trying to reach out to some in the environmental community to build his green credentials, and recently made a visit to a conference aimed at getting a watershed restoration fund put in place in the County. We're sad to see Haire go though, left with the knowledge that we'll have to wait at least another 4 years for an Executive who could nominally be mistaken for an adult film star.

On the Democratic side, Sheriff George Johnson and County Department of Parks & Recreation Head, Dennis Callahan, continue to putter along, getting lots of face time at public events, but generally staying out of the news. Councilwoman Barbara Samorajczyk, is still apparently exploring a run, but hasn't formally announced. There's a lot to improve in Anne Arundel County government, but the silence from the candidates, so far, is deafening.

Pay to Play

Today's Baltimore Sun reports that several of the prospective County Executive candidates for 2006 have already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns (Dirk Haire (R) - ~$200,000; George Johnson (D) - ~$200,000; John Leopold (R) - $148,000; Phil Bissett (R) - It's a surprise!). Even though the election is nearly 2 years away, Haire, who has extensive "experience working on large business deals involving governments and corporations" (a frightening admission if ever there was one), already hopes to raise $1.5 million.

All this begs the question, why are at least 4 different people prepared to raised millions of dollars for an office that pays about $150,000/year? Is it to faithfully serve the public good? To do us proud by helping to keep County government functioning smoothly, while at the same time helping to preserve our quality of life, or make it better? Or is it for ego, and perhaps personal power? Several of the candidates (i.e., Leopold, Bissett, Johnson, and Callahan) all have records in public life that we can examine to gain a little more insight into their possible motivations. And that's what we'll be doing over the course of the next year or so.

The article does contain a ray of hope though, apparently Barbara Samorajczyk (D - Annapolis), the quick-witted firebreather from Annapolis Roads has not yet decided that she won't run for Executive. Ms. Samorajczyk is one of the most conscientious and committed public servants the residents of the County have on their side.

Executives-in-Train-ing

In an effort to get a little more high profile, unsuccessful Republican challenger to the Janet Owens' throne, Phil Bissett got himself an appointment to head up the State’s commuter and train system, MARC. Bissett, who lost to Owens by several thousand votes in 2002, is gearing up for 2006, bringing Diane Rey, of We Hold Officials Accountable (WHOA), on board as a campaign manager, and raising serious funds.

He’s got considerable work ahead of him, even with the Gov on his side. Republican opponent John Leopold is arguably the best campaigner in Anne Arundel County, and has begun to accrue a substantial war chest.

Thus far, the Democratic offerings for the position appear uninspired. Sheriff George Johnson, who was re-paid handsomely for his loyalty to Owens after agreeing not to run against her in 2002 (Owens appears to have thrown in with County Parks & Rec hatchet-man, Dennis “Ballfields” Callahan), will likely be opposed by Republicrat Callahan. [Callahan being one of several confused Anne Arundel politicians (see Middlebrooks, Ed; Evans, Diane; and Neal, Bobby) who don’t know whether they are a Democrat or a Republican].

Let’s hope, for the sake of the County, a dark-horse steps forward to offer us something different that than the standard sprawl and stale “solutions” that we’ve endured for the past several decades in Anne Arundel.