Opponents line up for Maryland’s election races 

Posted: 8:01 pm Tue, July 6, 2010
By Nicholas Sohr
Daily Record Business Writer

With the battle lines finally drawn Tuesday night, some high-ranking Maryland lawmakers could face a tough road back to Annapolis in an election year that promises to bring dozens of new faces to the General Assembly.

Among the most prominent state legislators facing difficult elections are House Appropriations Committee Chairman Norman H. Conway and Joseph F. Vallario Jr., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

At least seven delegates and two senators retired following the 2010 legislative session, and 15 delegates and one senator are running for other offices. Most incumbents face challengers, many of them spurred by discontent felt by voters nationwide.

“Even with the local legislative races, people are upset with Annapolis for the same reason that they’re upset with Washington. Taxes have been raised to record levels over the last four years, but we still have record deficits,” said Ryan Mahoney, political director for the Maryland Republican Party.

Susan W. Turnbull, chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party, said she doubts displeasure with Washington will trickle down to state races and predicted her party would add to overwhelming majorities in both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates.

But, when asked about the prospects of Vallario and Conway, she replied: “I don’t know.”

“I think generally speaking, incumbents are in strong positions,” she added. “But I do know that there are aggressive challengers in those races.”

Conway, D-Lower Shore, is confronted with four Republicans and two Democrats vying for the two seats in his district.

“It’s going to be tough. I think any time there’s another name there, you’ve got to work,” Conway said. “You’re just about in every race going to get a double whammy with this economy and this downturn. It’s going to have its impact.”

Conway finished second in the two-seat district in 2006, edging a Republican challenger by 355 votes.

“I felt like this is the time,” said Republican challenger Marty Pusey, a state employee who also heads the Worcester County Republican Central Committee. “I feel like we’re at a tipping point in our state and in our country. This is a critical time in our history. We need to make very deliberate changes in the way we do businesses in government, both in Annapolis and in Washington.”

Pocomoke City Mayor Mike McDermott, a Republican, and Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, a Democrat, are also running for the seat.

Vallario, who has chaired the House Judiciary Committee since 1993, faces a crowded field for the Democratic primary. Ten Democrats and one Republican filed for the race in the two-member district in Prince George’s and Calvert counties. Vallario finished second in the Democratic primary in 2006 behind Del. James E. Proctor Jr.

Vallario was criticized this year by female lawmakers who said he treated them harshly during committee hearings and later by proponents of a drunk driving bill that Vallario, a defense attorney, never put to a vote.

“There are just a myriad issues that are held up by the chairman,” said Percel Alston, one of Vallario’s most prominent opponents. Alston is a retired narcotics investigator in the Prince George’s County Police Department and former president of the county’s Fraternal Order of Police.

Alston acknowledged the difficult task of unseating Vallario in a district full of powerful Democratic incumbents, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and Proctor, vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Vallario did not respond to repeated requests for comment Tuesday and last Thursday.

Several delegates covet new seats that would come at the expense of their fellow members. In half of Montgomery County’s eight districts, current or former Democratic delegates are challenging their senators. And House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, is challenging Sen. Donald F. Munson.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas M. “Mac” Middleton, D-Charles, will face a rematch with Republican Jay Bala, a Charles County business owner. In 2006 Bala received 35 percent of the vote to Middleton’s 65 percent.

Republicans are eyeing two Democrat-held Senate seats in Anne Arundel County, including that of John C. Astle, Middleton’s vice-chair on the  Finance Committee.

Elsewhere on the ballot, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy, seeking her fifth term, faces two challengers in the Democratic primary. Gregg Bernstein is a former assistant U.S. Attorney in Maryland and is now a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP. Sheryl A. Lansey is a private practice attorney in the city.

The race for Baltimore County State’s Attorney will feature the same candidates as 2006. Republican Steve Bailey, a former assistant state’s attorney will face off against incumbent Democrat Scott Shellenberger, who is running for a second term.

Comptroller Peter Franchot will face the winner of an eclectic Republican primary. William Henry Campbell, of Howard County, served as CFO of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard and Amtrak. Armand F. Girard, of Baltimore, has been a frequent candidate in state and local races. Eighteen-year-old Brendan Madigan, is the founder of the conservative blog gopresurgence.com.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler remained unopposed as the 9 p.m. filing deadline drew near.