AFTERMATH - So Larry Hogan's Our Governor: What Happened Down-Ballot, What's Next & What About the Purple Line?

Below Maryland Juice provides a few thoughts on last night's wild (and disappointing) election returns:

JUICE #1: WHAT HAPPENED IN MARYLAND'S DOWN-BALLOT RACES? - I have to admit, I wasn't quite expecting Larry Hogan to have a shot at winning the Governor's race (known unforced errors notwithstanding). However, I fully expected that several races down-ballot would be hotly contested in the General Election. After all, Maryland's rapidly growing Democratic electorate is geographically concentrated with some tentacles into counties like Howard & Frederick that are adjacent to Blue hotspots. When political demographics shift, wave years for political parties (like we saw this year, in 2010, and during the Newt Gingrich years) can often eliminate incumbent lawmakers who sit in districts that have become home to the opposing party. This year in Maryland was (unfortunately) no different.

The short summary is this: In the House of Delegates, Democrats are facing a net loss of 7 seats, and in the Senate, Republicans will gain 2 seats. Democrats will still hold a solid majority in both chambers. Blogger David Lublin over at The Seventh State framed the consequences accurately: "The Democrats who lost in the General Assembly are almost all moderate or conservative Democrats.... The Democrats will be more liberal and the Republicans more conservative." Heading into the 2015 legislative session, Democrats will hold 91 seats in the House of Delegates, while Republicans will hold 50. But of the 91 Democratic lawmakers, 26% will represent Montgomery County, 25% will represent Prince George's County, and roughly 18% will represent Baltimore City. That means nearly 69% of the Democratic House Caucus will come from the "Big 3" jurisdictions.

In the State Senate, Democrats will hold 33 seats, with the Republicans holding 14. 24% of the Democrats will be from Montgomery County, 24% will represent Prince George's, and 15% will represent Baltimore City. In the upper chamber, 63% of Democrats will represent the "Big 3" jurisdictions.

Below I've noted some of the noteworthy down-ballot election results from around the state. Though it was a bad night for Democrats, some of the races below are Democratic pick-ups:

STATE SENATE CHANGES (GOP NETS 2 SEATS):

• D6 (-1 DEM OPEN SEAT): Johnny Ray Salling (GOP) beats Johnny Olszewski Jr (DEM)
• D29 (-1 DEM): Steve Waugh (GOP) beats incumbent Roy Dyson (DEM)
• D34 (GOP HOLD OPEN SEAT): Bob Cassilly (GOP) beats Mary-Dulany James (DEM)

HOUSE OF DELEGATES CHANGES (GOP NETS 7 SEATS):

• D1B (-1 DEM): Jason Buckel (GOP) beats incumbent Kevin Kelly (DEM)
• D2B (-1 DEM): Brett Wilson (GOP) beats incumbent John Donoghue (DEM)
• D3A (+1 DEM IN 2 OPEN SEATS): Carol Krimm & Karen Young (ALL DEM) beat Paul Smith & Victoria Wilkins (ALL GOP)
• D6 (-3 DEM): Bob Long, Robin Grammer & Ric Metzgar (ALL GOP) beat incumbent Mike Weir & 2 Democrats
• D29A (-1 DEM IN OPEN SEAT): Matt Morgan (GOP) beats Daniel Slade (DEM)
• D29B (-1 DEM): Deb Ray (GOP) beats incumbent John Bohanan (DEM)
• D31A (+1 DEM): Ned Carey (DEM) beats Terry Lynn DeGraw (GOP)
• D34B (-1 DEM IN OPEN SEAT): Susan McComas (GOP) beats Cassandra Beverly (DEM)
• D35A (LOSS ACCOUNTED FOR IN D34B): Kevin Bailey Hornberger (GOP) beats incumbent David Rudolph (DEM)
• D38B (-1 DEM): Carl Anderton Jr (GOP) beats incumbent Norm Conway (DEM)
• D34A (NO CHANGE): Incumbent Glen Glass (GOP) & Mary Ann Lisanti (DEM) win

NOTE ON DEFEATED DEMS: Del. Norm Conway is House Appropriations Chair; Del. David Rudolph is House Economic Matters Vice-Chair; Sen. Roy Dyson is Senate Education, Health & Environmental Vice-Chair. We can expect some shifting of positions due to these losses.

CONGRESS (ALL INCUMBENTS WIN RE-ELECTION): Though every member of Congress in Maryland is headed to re-election, the CD6 race between Rep. John Delaney and Dan Bongino was an interesting one. Here are the final numbers (not including absentee and provisional ballots):

• John Delaney 89,318
• Dan Bongino 87,152

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY EXECUTIVE (GOP HOLD OPEN SEAT)

• Del. Steve Schuh (GOP) beats George Johnson (DEM)
• County Council will be 4 GOP to 3 DEM (one of the GOP being a seccessionist)

BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE (DEM HOLDS SEAT)

• Incumbent Kevin Kamenetz (DEM) beats George Harman (GOP)
• County Council will be 3 GOP to 4 DEM

FREDERICK COUNTY EXECUTIVE (DEM WINS FIRST EVER ELECTION)

• Jan Gardner (DEM) beats Blaine Young (GOP)
• County Council will be 5 GOP to 2 DEM

HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE (GOP WINS OPEN SEAT)

• Sen. Allan Kittleman (GOP) beats Courtney Watson (DEM)
• County Council will be 1 GOP to 4 DEM

BALLOT QUESTIONS

• MD Question 1 - "Transportation Fund Lock Box" was Approved
• MD Question 2 - Authorization for County Executive Special Elections was Approved
• MoCo Question A - Residency Requirement for District Councilmembers was Approved
• PG Question J - Longer Term Limits for County Officials was Rejected

JUICE #2: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: 2018 ELECTION TEA LEAVES - Last night Maryland Juice was watching election coverage on News Channel 8. Doug Gansler's running-mate, Jolene Ivey, was on-air talking about the election returns, and it sure sounds like Gansler might run again in 2018. Gansler has also since appeared in post-election coverage criticizing the Brown campaign (see eg: WBAL). The other candidate in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, Heather Mizeur closed out the General Election with a Baltimore Sun op-ed stating, "our time will come at some future election." Let's also not forget that Congressman John Delaney was polling the Governor's race (with his name included) during the primary. The Baltimore Sun included Ken Ulman in a list of election winners & losers (listed as a winner), with the following statement: "You may have dodged a bullet by avoiding the trap of being Maryland's lieutenant governor, historically a one-way ticket to nowhere.... See you in four years." Lastly, The Sun's list also mentioned Comptroller Peter Franchot, who also flirted with a gubernatorial bid this cycle: "In an awful year for Democrats, Comptroller Peter Franchot actually increased his margin of victory from 2010. He ran strong where Democrats did well, and he ran strong where they didn't." Last night's election results were utterly disappointing, but I guess we'll at least have something to talk about for four years.


JUICE #3: MOVING FORWARD & THE FUTURE OF THE PURPLE LINE - I don't want to spend too much time talking about the Governor's race, but I posted my very brief thoughts on Facebook earlier this evening:

As noted above, I am indeed thinking about how to adjust to the reality of a Hogan administration. Of primary concern are two issues that should not be seen as partisan: 1) funding for severely overcrowded schools in Montgomery County, and 2) funding for transit projects that are near-ready to break ground, like the Purple Line. The transit-focused blog Greater Greater Washington today discussed the impact of a Hogan administration on the Purple Line and included some of my thoughts (excerpt below):

GREATER GREATER WASHINGTON: Business groups supported Hogan because of his message of tax cuts. They also have strongly favored the Purple Line. Will they tell Hogan that it's important to them? David Moon, an organizer who once ran the Purple Line Now campaign and was just elected to the House of Delegates from the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area, said, "You're not going to be able to [win Hogan over] from a regional DC-suburban perspective, or a liberal transit versus roads perspective," or the environment (he ran against a stormwater fee calling it a "rain tax"). But if businesses are willing to stand up for infrastructure that will generate economic growth, he said, that is more compelling....

The interesting piece has generated a decent amount of commentary and debate (see here).


That's all I got for now....

JuiceBlender: Gansler Hints at Runningmate, Frick & Braveboy for Atty General, Mikulski Endorsing Brown, Franchot Kickoff

Below Maryland Juice provides a few news tidbits and an event this Saturday relating to statewide candidates for Governor, Attorney General and Comptroller:

JUICE #1: ATTORNEY GENERAL DOUG GANSLER RELEASES CAMPAIGN KICKOFF VIDEO  //  NOTE: DEL. KIEFFER MITCHELL IS ALL OVER IT - Attorney General Doug Gansler is announcing his campaign for Maryland Governor next week, with multiple campaign stops on Tuesday, September 24th. But Gansler took to Twitter today to release a very interesting kickoff video for his campaign:

IS GANSLER HINTING AT HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CHOICE? - Gansler's video (viewable below) highlights a lacrosse league he started in Baltimore, his work combating domestic violence as State's Attorney, a testimonial by Sen. Rich Madaleno noting Gansler's early support for marriage equality, support from former U.S. Senator Joseph Tydings, and .... Delegate Kieffer Mitchell. Notably, Mitchell has been named as one of Doug Gansler's potential running mates, though at least one source is very skeptical that Mitchell has signed on for the Lt. Gov. spot.

Also of note in Gansler's campaign video is a segment where he highlights problems in Maryland. The following issues appear to be previewing criticisms Gansler may level at the O'Malley-Brown administration: 1) Jobs leaving the state, 2) Maryland having the #2 educational achievement gap in the nation, and 3) Maryland having America's worst traffic congestion. You can watch Gansler's kickoff video below:



JUICE #2: U.S. SENATOR BARBARA MIKULSKI TO ENDORSE LT. GOVERNOR ANTHONY BROWN IN MOCO, TWO DAYS AHEAD OF GANSLER KICKOFF - Two days ahead of Doug Gansler's campaign kickoff, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown is hosting a campaign event in Montgomery County, this Sunday, September 22nd. The Washington Post reports that the event in Silver Spring will likely be to announce an endorsement from U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown’s gubernatorial campaign plans to unveil Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski as its latest supporter at an event Sunday, according to several people familiar with the planned endorsement.

The backing of Mikulski (D-Md.), who rarely chooses sides in Democratic primaries, is scheduled to be announced in Silver Spring two days before Douglas F. Gansler, Brown’s chief rival for the 2014 nomination, plans to formally launch his campaign for governor. Brown (D) advertised the event in an e-mail to supporters last week, promising “an exciting campaign announcement” Sunday at noon....

JUICE #3: COMPTROLLER PETER FRANCHOT KICKS OF RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN WITH A NEW VIDEO - Peter Franchot kicked off his re-election bid today with a video highlighting his accomplishments. Among these, Franchot includes: 1) making it easier to file taxes and get refunds quicker, 2) collecting money from tax-dodgers, 3) fighting wasteful spending, and 4) not being a rubber stamp for "Annapolis insiders." Watch Peter Franchot's kickoff video below:



JUICE #4: DELEGATES BILL FRICK AND AISHA BRAVEBOY TO JOIN RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL - The Washington Post's John Wagner reported today that Delegates Bill Frick (Montgomery County) and Aisha Braveboy (Prince George's County) will be joining Sen. Brian Frosh and Del. Jon Cardin (Baltimore County) in the race for Attorney General (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Del. C. William Frick (D-Montgomery) filed his paperwork with the State Board of Elections on Wednesday, and Del. Aisha N. Braveboy (D-Prince George’s) said she plans to file as a 2014 candidate by the end of the day Thursday.... Frick, a member of the House of Delegates since 2007, said he would make a formal announcement about his campaign in coming weeks....

JUICE #5: THIS SATURDAY, NARAL PRO-CHOICE MARYLAND GALA TO DRAW ATTENDEES RANGING FROM FRANCHOT & MIZEUR TO ULMAN & GANSLER - Maryland Juice received an invitation to a NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland "Evening of Chocolate Gala" this Saturday night, and it appears that many of our statewide Democratic candidates will be attending this event (tickets still available online). The NARAL Gala will be this Saturday night at 8 pm in Sandy Spring, Maryland (details below):

PRESS RELEASE

Chocolate for Choice

Gubernatorial Candidates, Elected Officials, and Others Celebrate Reproductive Rights and Honor Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, Joshua Sharfstein, and Reproductive Healthcare Provider, Allie Harper.

NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland’s 24th annual Evening of Chocolate Gala this Saturday at 8pm celebrates the 40-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the achievements of Secretary Joshua Sharfstein and Allie Harper. Also attending are Comptroller Peter Franchot, gubernatorial candidates Delegate Heather Mizeur and Attorney General Doug Gansler, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, candidate for Lt. Governor, and more than 200 NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland supporters.

“The Supreme Court’s Roe decision 40 years ago is a good foundation to protect reproductive freedom, but the issue of choice and reproductive health continues to be a matter of concern,” says Jodi Finkelstein, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland. “The Evening of Chocolate is a wonderful time to reflect on our successes, but we also need to focus on the work at hand. Nationally, a women’s fundamental right to choose is at stake. We need to continue to ensure a woman’s right to make decisions about her reproductive health remains unfettered by government intervention.”

WHO: Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD., Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Delegate Heather Mizeur, and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, Over 200 NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland supporters

WHERE: The Oak Room, 17921 Brooke Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

WHAT: NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland’s Annual Evening of Chocolate Gala

WHEN: September 21, 2013, 8:00-11:00 pm

Current and former elected officials sponsoring the Gala include: Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congressman John Sarbanes, Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Erwin, Delegate Ariana Kelly, Senator Karen Montgomery, Delegate Anne Kaiser, Delegate Eric Luedtke, Delegate Craig Zucker, Senator Robert Garagiola, Delegate Kathleen Dumais, Delegate Brian Feldman, Delegate Aruna Miller, Senator Nancy King, Delegate Charles Barkley, Delegate Kirill Reznik, Delegate Shane Robinson, Senator Roger Manno, Howard County Councilwoman Courtney Watson, Cheverly Councilwoman Mary Jane Coolen, Delegate Ben Kramer, Delegate Bill Frick, Delegate Guy Guzzone, Delegate Jim Gilchrist, Delegate Luiz R.S. Simmons, Delegate Shelia Hixson, Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich, The Honorable Duchy Trachtenberg, and The Honorable Cheryl C. Kagan.

NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland is the political leader of the pro-choice movement in Maryland and works to develop and sustain a constituency that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing safe, legal abortion. Money raised at the event supports NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland’s advocacy work.

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JuiceBlender: Maryland Lawmakers Weigh Retirement, Mizeur Decries Exclusion from 2014 Coverage, Frick vs. Frosh for AG

PLUS: FRANCHOT'S ODD NEWSPAPER, O'MALLEY'S PILGRIMAGE & A GOP COUP!

Below Maryland Juice highlights several news tidbits that may of interest to politicos tracking campaign developments in 2014 (and 2016):

JUICE #1: NUMEROUS STATE SENATORS & DELEGATES MAY RETIRE IN 2014 - Center Maryland columnist Josh Kurtz recently published a thorough round-up of possible retirement and open seat possibilities in 2014. In his lengthy column, he audits almost every State Senate and House of Delegates district and comes to the conclusion that the next election cycle could result in massive turnover in the General Assembly (excerpt below):

JOSH KURTZ (VIA CENTER MARYLAND): Jimmy Malone and Steven DeBoy are just the tip of the iceberg. When the House of Delegates convenes in 2015, there could be as many as 50 new members. That’s right, more than a third of the chamber could — could — turn over....

The Malone and DeBoy departures say something about the unique challenges facing conservative and moderate Democrats in Annapolis.... Indeed, redistricting will contribute heavily to the looming reconfiguration in the House, along with all the usual reasons: electoral defeats, delegates running for higher office, and pure retirements.

In the Senate, turnover has helped contribute to the long tenure of President Mike Miller (D).... No one has the seniority, gravitas or political cojones to challenge Miller’s supremacy....

But the House is a much less manageable place under the best of circumstances. As more and more newcomers arrive, with fewer connections and loyalty to Busch than the members who were there when he became speaker in 2003, it becomes harder for Busch and his lieutenants to maintain day-to-day control. That’s just the nature of the beast....

[ READ CENTER MARYLAND'S LIST OF RETIREMENT & OPEN SEAT SCENARIOS ]

JUICE #2: DEL. HEATHER MIZEUR DECRIES EXCLUSION FROM BALTIMORE SUN COLUMNIST'S GUBERNATORIAL COVERAGE - Maryland Juice received an email blast today from the campaign manager for Del. Heather Mizeur's gubernatorial campaign decrying her omission from Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks' recent discussion of the 2014 race. Mizeur's campaign also took offense with Rodricks calling the Governor's office the "big-daddy chair." Below we provide an excerpt from Dan Rodricks' April 10, 2014 column (titled "Ruppersberger considering run for governor"), followed by an excerpt from Heather Mizeur's email blast:

DAN RODRICKS (VIA BALTIMORE SUN): Among the likely Democratic candidates for Maryland governor in 2014 — Howard County executive Ken Ulman, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler — Ulman comes closest to being the "Baltimore-area candidate."

But a genuine Baltimore-area candidate — someone who could pull votes from Baltimore County and the city, and enough in other key sectors of the state — would be a serious contender for the big-daddy chair in Annapolis....

The column above triggered the following response in the form of an email blast from Heather Mizeur's campaign manager Joanna Belanger. The blast below calls on supporters to sign a petition to send a message that "Maryland isn't a boys' club" (excerpt below):

JOANNA BELANGER (VIA FRIENDS OF HEATHER MIZEUR): The Baltimore Sun recently published a guest column about all the potential Democratic candidates for Governor in 2014. Well, all except for one:

Heather Mizeur.

Right now, there are no announced candidates for Governor. But Heather, just like several others, has made it clear that she's seriously considering a bid.

But the Sun only talked about the men who are thinking about running. Even worse, they actually called the office of Governor "the big-daddy chair.”

Sometimes you really have to wonder if these folks realize that it's 2013 now, and that women won't be ignored and dismissed. We deserve and demand better – will you add your name to our petition and let your voice be heard?

The race for Governor is going to be about the issues we all care about and who can best move Maryland forward – not his or her gender. Heather has spent her entire career working on behalf of all Marylanders, making sure we continue to improve our infrastructure and schools, protect our natural resources, promote job growth, and fight for equality.
That’s why her supporters are urging her to run.

Your support is vital. That's why I'm asking you to stand with me and add your name to our petition now. We need to send a message that Maryland isn't a boys' club -- and there's no such thing as the "big-daddy chair."

All my best,
Joanna Belanger
Campaign Manager
Friends of Heather Mizeur

Meanwhile, for those still questioning whether Del. Mizeur is actually running for Governor, it is worth noting that The Chestertown Spy recently published a series of video clips showing Mizeur campaigning in Kent County.


JUICE #3: 2014 ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE HIGHLIGHTS HOMETOWN RIVALRY BETWEEN SEN. BRIAN FROSH AND DEL. BILL FRICK - Yesterday Bethesda Magazine published an article profiling the dueling Attorney General campaigns from two District 16 Democrats: Sen. Brian Frosh & Del. Bill Frick. The worthwhile article presents some interesting backstory about Frosh's run for Attorney General, noting specifically that State Senator Jamie Raskin had been previously preparing for a run. Additionally, Bethesda Magazine also focuses on the awkwardness caused by the unusual circumstance of having two lawmakers from the same district seeking the same statewide office (excerpt below):

LOUIS PECK (VIA BETHESDA MAGAZINE): Although separated in age by almost three decades, state Sen. Brian Frosh and state Delegate Bill Frick have a lot in common.... Today, they reside barely a mile from each other along Bethesda’s River Road corridor, and share representation of District 16 in the Maryland General Assembly. In Annapolis, both can claim a record of legislative accomplishment as well as a passion for some of the same issues, particularly in the realm of consumer protection.

Perhaps it is as much because of these connections as in spite of them that Frick and Frosh now find themselves on a collision course.

While some in local political circles wait to see if one of them blinks, both men say they are committed to seeking the 2014 Democratic nomination to succeed Attorney General Douglas Gansler.... How did this statewide political head-on between two candidates from the same legislative district come about?...

When Frick approached Frosh about the contest, Frick says that Frosh told him that he was already committed to another attorney general aspirant from Montgomery County: state Sen. Jamie Raskin of Takoma Park, a law professor at American University....

JUICE #4: COMPTROLLER PETER FRANCHOT PRINTS NEWSPAPER DECLARING HIMSELF "THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN MARYLAND" - A Maryland Juice reader recently reported that residents in her neighborhood received hand-delivered copies of a bizarre multi-page newspaper from Comptroller Peter Franchot. The elected statewide Democrat often describes himself as Maryland's "fiscal watchdog," but now he has adopted the title of "the most interesting man in Maryland." See the scanned front page of the newspaper below:

The Baltimore Sun provided some context on this strange government communication in an article earlier this month (excerpt below):

ERIN COX (VIA BALTIMORE SUN): Would you like to meet the most interesting man in Maryland?  Apparently, it's Comptroller Peter Franchot.

Franchot this week released a spoof of the popular Dos Equis' beer commercials as promotion for Maryland's unclaimed property website. More than $980 million is waiting to be claimed by Marylanders, and newspaper inserts will soon start advertising $80 million of them. ...

JUICE #5: MARYLAND HOUSE GOP MEMBERS ATTEMPT LEADERSHIP COUP - Maryland Reporter this week highlighted an emerging attempt by State House GOP members to replace GOP Minority Leader Tony O'Donnell (excerpt below):

GLYNIS KAZANJIAN (VIA MARYLAND REPORTER): A movement led by junior Republican delegates is underway to replace Maryland GOP House Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell and Minority Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. The move comes only days after the Maryland Republican Party voted in a new state party chairman, Diana Waterman, following a highly contentious election for the position.

Second term Del. Nicholaus Kipke, 34, Anne Arundel, and freshman Del. Kathy Szeliga, 51,  Baltimore and Harford counties, have been named by party insiders as the team running to replace O’Donnell, 52, and House Whip, Eastern Shore Del. Haddaway-Riccio, 35.

A vote is scheduled to take place in a special election next Tuesday, April 30, but such meetings are generally closed to the media and the public. This is the third reported attempt to unseat O’Donnell, with Kipke leading a similar effort in 2011 that fizzled....

JUICE #6: O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS DURING TRIP TO ISRAEL -  It is no surprise to Maryland politicos that our Gov. Martin O'Malley has been gearing up for a 2016 White House run for quite some time now. But O'Malley stated the obvious during a recent trip to Israel (which now sits next to New Hampshire and Iowa on the list of places a prospective Presidential candidate must visit). The New York Times covered some of O'Malley's remarks during his trip this week (excerpt below):

NEW YORK TIMES: Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland said Wednesday that he would spend the second half of this year mulling whether to run for president in 2016. He seems already to have a campaign theme: jobs and innovation.

At least that’s what he insisted was the sole focus of his eight-day trip to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories....

Governor O’Malley, 50, said it was his third visit to Israel.... Mr. O’Malley was also set to meet with President Shimon Peres of Israel; two rising stars in Israeli politics, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, both of whom head economic ministries; and Salaam Fayyad, who resigned earlier this month as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.....

“I plan for the latter half of this year to dedicate some more thought time, reflection time, to the question of whether or not I would run,” he said Tuesday. “The key question in running for any office is having a clear and refined understanding of the shared reality we face and the better set of choices we need to make as a people to meet those challenges and to create a better future for our kids....”

MORE ON THE COMING POLITICAL BATTLES SOON!

Peter Franchot Releases Internal Poll From Aborted Governors Race // PLUS: Del. Brian Feldman Weighing 2014 Comptroller

UPDATE: The Gazette's C. Benjamin Ford printed comments today from Del. Brian Feldman about a possible primary challenge against Comptroller Peter Franchot (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Dist. 16) of Potomac, a tax lawyer and certified public accountant, told The Gazette on Thursday that he is eyeing a possible bid. During the upcoming legislative session, he plans to talk to people from across the state and weigh whether he has enough support to challenge Franchot....

His experience as a tax lawyer and CPA make for an “ideal background” for a comptroller, he said. Feldman said he has disagreed with Franchot on several issues, including finding funds to meet the state’s transportation infrastructure needs. Feldman supports raising additional revenues to pay for transportation projects, while Franchot has opposed it.

Maryland Juice has two interesting tidbits regarding the Free State's 2014 election cycle, including leaked polling results from Comptroller Peter Franchot's aborted gubernatorial campaign.

JUICE #1: BRIAN FELDMAN FOR COMPTROLLER IN 2014? - First, knowledgeable sources are discussing the possibility that Del. Brian Feldman will challenge Peter Franchot in a Democratic Primary for Comptroller. Feldman, a Democratic lawmaker from Montgomery County, had been known to be interested in the race. Moreover, the field might be more clear for him now that State Senator Jim Rosapepe has decided against challenging the incumbent Comptroller. Our sources also speculate that labor organizations and certain Democratic officials might be willing to aid efforts to unseat Franchot. Could Brian Feldman become the beneficiary of these efforts?

It seems plausible that Peter Franchot could be vulnerable in a Democratic Primary. After all, the state's Primary electorate is quite liberal, but Franchot has sometimes employed inflexible, Tea Party-style rhetoric regarding taxes, spending and revenue in Maryland. On the other hand,  Franchot's almost run for Governor has been a strength for his fundraising operation. As I recall, he had at least $1 million in the bank at last check, so any challenger would need to catch up quickly on fundraising. That means that those who wish to make an example of Franchot better be prepared to work hard and employ a strong (well-financed) message.

JUICE #2: FRANCHOT RELEASES INTERNAL POLLS FROM ABORTED GUBERNATORIAL BID - The possibility that challengers are considering a run for Comptroller might explain why the incumbent Peter Franchot decided to release his internal campaign polls. It seems that while he was exploring a run for Governor, Franchot's polls purported to show he was in 2nd place for the race to succeed Governor O'Malley in 2014. More to the point, Franchot's poll results claimed that a rough majority of voters would support him in a re-election bid for Comptroller. Yesterday Tom Coale released these details and more at the HoCo Rising blog (excerpt below):

HOCO RISING: Normington Petts & Associates took the poll from likely Democratic Primary voters in May and December of this year.  The number of respondents was not disclosed.  These voters had an 85% favorability rating of the President and 70% for Governor O'Malley....

Although 53% of respondents remain undecided on the current slate of candidates, for those that have made up their mind, voters lean heavily towards Brown.  If the race were held today, with all four candidates in the race, the projected results would be:

• Brown    22%
• Franchot 13%
• Gansler   8%
• Ulman    4%

Leaving the Gubernatorial race, 49% of respondents said that if the election were held today, without knowing the opponent, they would vote to re-elect Peter Franchot to the Comptroller's office, which may respond to some of Franchot's critics saying he has gone too far to the right to do well in a state-wide primary. 

QUICK COMMENT ON FRANCHOT'S POLL - Maryland Juice has also obtained a leaked copy of the polling memo and summary results from the survey that HoCo Rising discussed yesterday. See both items below, preceded by my quick caveats. First, Franchot's internal poll results seem pretty convenient for him, given that his own ambitions have created a laundry list of Democrats interested in applying for his job.  Now that he is running for re-election, it seems obvious that he would want to dissuade challengers from entering the race.

But on a very basic level, Franchot's poll results beg the simple question: why did Franchot leave the race if he thought he was in a competitive 2nd place? Also note that Maryland Juice previously published Anthony Brown's internal numbers, and the Lt. Gov's poll results showed Attorney General Doug Gansler in 2nd place (not Franchot). Brown's poll also claimed that with Franchot out of the race, Gansler and Brown would each gobble up equal shares of Franchot's supporters. In any case, readers curious to see more discussion about Franchot's poll should head over to the HoCo Rising blog to read Tom Coale's take on the polling results. In the meantime, check out Franchot's documents below:
Peter Franchot - Dec 10, 2012 Polling Memo for 2014 Maryland Governor

Peter Franchot - Dec 10, 2012 Polling Summary for 2014 Maryland Governor

MD State Senator Jim Rosapepe Exits 2014 Comptroller Race // Citing Franchot's Decision, Rosapepe Opts for Re-Election Bid

UPDATE: An anonymous source provided the following mini-analysis about possible ramifications of the Franchot-Rosapepe domino effect:

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: Rosapepe staying put means both Ben Barnes and Joseline Pena-Melnyk, who had been mentioned as candidates for his seat, will probably stay put in the House or look elsewhere. It also means Kumar Barve will run for re-election to the House. Because Kumar was the only member of senior leadership thinking of jumping ship, unless there is a surprise announcement of a retirement by a committee chair, this means House of Delegates leadership will likely not change after the 2014 elections. This will lead to more frustration among mid-level leadership that will likely lead to more people thinking of pulling a Justin Ross - leaving the House for greener pastures.

Maryland Juice just received a major email announcement from State Senator Jim Rosapepe responding to Comptroller Peter Franchot's decision not to run for Governor in 2014. Rosapepe, a Prince George's County Democrat, was actively pursuing an exploratory bid for 2014 Comptroller. He has now decided to remain in the State Senate and seek another four-year term to represent District 21. See his press release below:

Rosapepe Comment on Franchot Announcement
Commenting on Comptroller Peter Franchot's announcement to run for re-election in 2014, Senator Jim Rosapepe (D, College Park) said:

"With my friend Comptroller Peter Franchot's announcement today that he intends to run for re-election in 2014, I am announcing my intent to run for re-election to the Maryland Senate.

My travels around our state over the past year and a half, as I've explored running for Comptroller, have allowed me to learn much more about the needs and aspirations of our people from the Bay to the mountains, from inner cities and outer suburbs to small towns and farms.  I've been humbled by the encouragement and support I've received from Democrats and Republicans, business and labor leaders, environmentalists and educators, colleagues and new acquaintances.

I know the experience has made me a better State Senator. While my interest in serving as Maryland Comptroller is undiminished, I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 21st District, and of the state, in the Maryland Senate."

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After Franchot's announcement today, Maryland Juice expects more dominoes to fall. Numerous politicians will begin sizing up their positions and adjusting to this development. More soon!

BREAKING: Peter Franchot is NOT Running for Maryland Governor in 2014 // The Comptroller Will Seek Re-Election

A Maryland Juice source just forwarded us an earth-shattering email blast from Comptroller Peter Franchot. In an announcement this morning, Franchot tells supporters he will not be running for Governor of Maryland in 2014. This may keep a few people out of the 2014 Comptroller's race, as I assume some would-be candidates will not want to take on an incumbent from the same party.

Meanwhile, this may have unpredictable affects on the Democratic Primary for Governor. So far, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Ganser, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Delegate Heather Mizeur are still eyeing the race. But this reduces the number of Montgomery County candidates from three to two, which I imagine isn't completely insignificant. In any case, see Peter Franchot's announcement below:

PETER FRANCHOT: As we approach the heart of the holiday season and the end of 2012, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued friendship. Indeed, I have so much to be thankful for this year – from my good health and wonderful family, to the support of so many good friends and the opportunity to serve the people of Maryland in what is undoubtedly the best job I have ever had.

In that spirit of sincere gratitude, I would also like to let you know that I have decided to seek re-election as Comptroller of Maryland in 2014. This is a decision that I have made after a great deal of personal reflection, and with the sound and thoughtful advice of my wife, Anne, and my two children, Abbe and Nick. It is no secret that in recent months, I have given thought to running for governor. I am humbled by the extraordinary support that my prospective campaign received in every corner of our state, and I am now more convinced than ever that there is a shared desire among Marylanders – irrespective of ideology or party affiliation – for an honest conversation of the fiscal and economic challenges that still lie ahead.

I look forward to engaging in that conversation from my office in the Goldstein Treasury Building. I have developed an abiding love for a Comptroller’s Office that has been recognized as the best in the nation, and is admired throughout the State of Maryland for its high standards of efficiency and professionalism.

Like so many people on my team, I have devoted my career to providing businesses and families with the exceptional customer service they deserve, while ensuring that everybody pays their fair share of taxes. At the same time, I have relished the opportunity to serve as an independent voice and a tough fiscal watchdog for the taxpayers – whether by opposing wasteful spending on the Board of Public Works, fighting to hold the line on state debt, protecting tax filers from fraudulent preparers, or leading by example and doing a better job for less money within my own office.

After nearly six years as Comptroller, it is still a profound honor to hold the office that once belonged to the likes of J. Millard Tawes, Louis Goldstein and William Donald Schaefer. By their words and actions, those Maryland giants set a timeless standard for honorable public service that is still reflected in the Comptroller’s Office today. My goal is to do my job and lead the Comptroller’s Office in a manner that honors their shared legacy.

Accordingly, I am looking forward to the year ahead with great anticipation. Thanks to my exceptional team of professionals, I expect to move closer than ever before to a paper-free tax filing season (and will remind you that by filing electronically, you can help my office save taxpayer money while ensuring that you receive your refund within three business days).

We also look forward to doing our part to create a level playing field, as well as a fair and predictable regulatory environment, for Maryland businesses that employ local people and reinvest in local communities. I will continue to advocate for a course in financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement. Finally, I shall continue to respect the sacrifice of Maryland’s taxpayers by ensuring that their hard-earned money is spent wisely, and by opposing initiatives that, however well-intentioned, would further weaken an economy that remains fundamentally fragile. These are neither Democratic nor Republican priorities – these are Maryland priorities that are rooted in sheer common sense. As always, I welcome and look forward to your feedback and advice on these important issues.

In closing, I would again like to thank you for your friendship and support, while wishing you and your family a peaceful holiday season.

More on the 2014 Comptroller's & Governor's races soon!

2014 MD GOVERNOR: Anthony Brown Poll Shows Early Lead Over Gansler, Franchot, Ulman // BATTLEGROUND: DC Burbs

All signs indicate that Maryland's 2014 statewide races are ramping up, and so far no office is more hotly contested than the Free State's upcoming contest to succeed Gov. Martin O'Malley. Today Maryland Juice received a copy of internal polling results from a source within Lt. Governor Anthony Brown's campaign, and they purport to reveal three things:

1. Brown starts the race with a clear lead,
2. the Washington suburbs will be Maryland's battleground region in 2014, and
3. nearly one in three Democrats have not yet formed an opinion on the race.

Note that this poll was conducted in September 2012 and only surveyed voters about Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Attorney General Doug Gansler, and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. The survey did not seem to ask voters about Delegate Heather Mizeur, who is now campaigning for and exploring a run for Governor. The polling firm was GarinHartYang, which has also done work for Gov. O'Malley and some of the Maryland ballot question campaigns this November. Below you can see the summary results and polling memo, but I start by highlighting a few of the key figures and findings.

1. Brown has higher name id, positives, and intensity of support than his competitors. 63% of voters know him, compared with only 54% for both Franchot and Gansler,
2. If Franchot gets out of the race, the dynamics of the race do not change significantly. His supporters break roughly evenly between Brown and Gansler.

Here's a quick excerpt from the polling memo's conclusion section (excerpt below)

GARIN-HART-YANG: The Washington, D.C., media market is looking like the battleground (especially if both Montgomery County candidates decide to run for governor), but even in trial heats with Gansler and Franchot, who have longer track records in this jurisdiction, the Lt. Governor leads in the Washington, D.C., area (admittedly narrowly) in BOTH the four-way trial heat and the three-way trial heat (without Franchot), and even in a one-on-one match up with the attorney general.

In summary, the polling data indicates that Lt. Governor Brown is best positioned to win the 2014 Democratic nomination, and the data are further encouraging about his prospects to EXPAND his support. While it is not unexpected that a sizeable proportion of Democratic primary voters (33%) have yet to make up their mind for an election that is almost two years away, the data also show that Lt. Governor Brown is well positioned to appeal to undecided voters....

MY QUICK THOUGHTS: It seems to me that with this first shot, Brown is declaring himself the front-runner in this race. Maryland Juice agrees with that conclusion for numerous reasons, but I note that this race could turn upside-down easily. For one, money, campaigns and issues do matter -- especially in a Democratic Primary. Moreover, this polling was done before any candidates' media buys have been able to define the contenders and issues. On that note, it is hard to ignore the huge multi-million dollar cash lead Gansler is starting the race with, and the unsettled nature of the candidate field. Consider, for example, that early presidential polls have had high-name-id candidates like Joe Lieberman and Joe Biden scoring high among voters -- and yet, I think neither of them could likely win a Democratic Primary for President. I suspect there is at least a little bit of that effect going on here. With those caveats, check out the Anthony Brown polling memo below:
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown 2014 Governor's Race Polling Memo - September 2012

TV AD // Comptroller Peter Franchot: "I've Seen a Lot of Whoppers About Tax Policy, But Nothing Like Question 7"

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is turning up the rhetoric a few notches in the Question 7 battle. The 2014 gubernatorial candidate has been a strong opponent of the push for gambling expansion this year, and as a result he has landed himself in a few television advertisements. His latest scorching of the "vote for" Question 7 side is featured prominently in a new television ad urging a "vote against" Question 7. Watch below:

FIELD REPORTS: Maryland Voters Show Massive Interest in Voting Early // Photos & Reports From Polling Locations

Maryland Juice is hearing reports of massive interest in early voting today -- the first day that voters can cast ballots for the 2012 federal elections and Maryland ballot questions. It is possible voters are trying to cast their ballots before Hurricane Sandy hits Maryland, but it is equally plausible that folks are fired up to weigh in on the ballot questions and Presidential race.

In fact Maryland Juice is very excited to vote early this year, and we encourage everyone to stay in line and make their voices heard. After all, as I recall, the early vote totals will be the first ballots counted on election night! Below you can see a few random reports from the field:

HUGE INTEREST IN DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING: First, Capitol News Service has been on the ground today at the early voting polls at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Check out their Tweet below:

MASSIVE INTEREST IN GERMANTOWN: The report of high early vote turnout was also confirmed by Senator Ben Cardin on Twitter. The photo below was taken at the Germantown early vote location, and you can see that Democratic officials are out working the polls today. Comptroller Peter Franchot, CD6 candidate John Delaney and Senator Ben Cardin can be seen greeting voters. We hear Governor Martin O'Malley was also out at Germantown today and met hundreds of voters heading into the polls:

HIGH TURNOUT IN PRINCE GEORGE'S AND RANDALLSTOWN: A Maryland Juice source also emailed us while in line at the Rockville early vote center to report that turnout is looking strong as she gets ready to vote. But its not just Montgomery County locations that are witnessing high turnout. A knowledgeable source who has been in touch with officials around the state reports that in Frederick, voters were lined up two hours before the opening of polls. Yet another source reports the same early voting surge in Anne Arundel County. Meanwhile, one anonymous Prince George's politico reports high turnout in that County and therefore expects 2012 early vote turnout to blow the 2010 numbers out of the water. Lastly, a source reports that there was an extremely long queue of cars at the Randallstown polling location in Baltimore County.

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: At the Randallstown early voting center this morning, there was an enormous line of cars stretching all the way through to the Home Depot. One person thought it was a funeral procession!

Below you can find information on how to vote early. Don't sit this election out!

All Maryland voters can vote early:

Saturday, October 27 through Thursday, November 1.

Early Voting Hours:

10 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday &

12 to 6 pm on Sunday, October 28.

NOTE: You must vote at one of the early vote centers in the County where you live and are registered to vote. Find your County's early voting locations:

Allegany County	Anne Arundel County	Baltimore City
Baltimore County	Calvert County	Caroline County
Carroll County	Cecil County	Charles County
Dorchester County	Frederick County	Garrett County
Harford County	Howard County	Kent County
Montgomery County	Prince George's County	Queen Anne's County
St. Mary's County	Somerset County	Talbot County
Washington County	Wicomico County	Worcester County

VIDEO: Anti-Gambling Ad Features Comptroller Peter Franchot: "It Is a Lie to Say New Casino Will Bring New Education Dollars"

Below Maryland Juice provides the latest TV ad from opponents of gambling expansion. The spot below urges a "vote against" Question 7 and features Comptroller Peter Franchot's criticism of the effort:

PETER FRANCHOT: It is a lie to say that the existing slots program or the new casino that’s proposed in Question 7 will bring in new education dollars.

The key claim in the ad is that if question 7 passes, there is no guarantee that gambling revenue will be used for education spending:

VIDEOS: Compare Maryland's Five Gubernatorial Candidates // Teachers Interview Brown, Franchot, Gansler, Mizeur & Ulman

Maryland's teachers union (MSEA) recently held an annual convention, where they interviewed all five Democratic candidates for 2014 Governor. Below you can compare and contrast Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Delegate Heather Mizeur, and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman:

JuiceBlender: Goodbye Roscoe Bartlett, Confusion About Redistricting Impact, Teachers Quiz 2014 Gubernatorial Field

Here's a random blend of political tidbits from recent news, starting with a very quick update on the 6th Congressional District battle:

JUICE #1: REP. ROSCOE BARTLETT IS A GONER - Roll Call's famed national political oddsmaker Stuart Rothenberg really seems to think the outcome of Maryland's heated CD6 race is a foregone conclusion. We've noted time and again that incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett keeps appearing on national lists of the most endangered Congressional incumbents. As we head into the homestretch, Rothenberg seems more certain that Bartlett is done for:

ROLL CALL: It is three weeks before Election Day and a handful of incumbents are already seeing the writing on the wall. They won’t be coming back to Congress. It’s time to look for other gainful employment or merely enjoy the quiet pleasures of forced retirement.... The same fate awaits Maryland Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, who remains a heavy underdog against John Delaney (D) in a district that doesn’t resemble his old one.

I must admit that for a race like this, there are many variables that a candidate cannot control -- such as the partisanship of his/her district, and to a certain extent how much money they can raise. But for those factors that a candidate can control, Bartlett has not played his cards correctly.  Early on in the cycle, Maryland Juice warned that the longtime Republican incumbent's Tea Party profile would not play well with the new flood of Montgomery County voters in his District. But there have been few meaningful attempts from Bartlett to moderate the extremism in his voting record prior to this cycle. Furthermore, news reports are now questioning how hard Bartlett is campaigning for his seat. Yesterday, The Baltimore Sun's John Fritze called Bartlett "hard to find" in the state's top Congressional race (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: As she hurried to a Metro station after shaking hands with Democratic congressional candidate John Delaney, Lawrencia Atakora said she'd support him because of his positions on the issues. But she quickly added another factor influencing her decision: She hadn't heard a word from Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett.

"I don't really know who he is," the 23-year-old Gaithersburg resident said of the Republican incumbent, who has represented Maryland's 6th District since she was 3 years old. "That could have something to do with it as well...."

A half dozen Republicans, including some Bartlett allies, quietly expressed frustration at a perceived lack of urgency by the campaign.... At the Hagerstown debate last week, for instance, Bartlett said the nation's illegal immigrants "could just as well have been 12 to 20 million terrorists."

JUICE #2: REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM RAISES QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE - Today, Roll Call's Abby Livingston also put out a piece analyzing the potential fallout from Maryland's redistricting referendum (Question 5). If a majority of voters support a "vote against" Question 5, Maryland will have to draw new Congressional districts. But it is unclear what that means for the short-term future of representation in Maryland (excerpt below):

ROLL CALL: On Election Day, Maryland citizens could vote to throw out their state’s 2011 Congressional redistricting map, a possibility that could lead to legal and political chaos.... Who would Maryland House Members represent in the interim? Would the old district lines, which disappear with the 112th Congress, be used, or would they serve voters under the 2011 redraw until new boundaries could be agreed to?

The consensus among Maryland establishment Republicans and Democrats is that the 2011 map will determine representation until a new map is enacted for the 2014 cycle. But some of the state’s and nation’s smartest lawyers and political scientists are scratching their heads on the legal implications of such a move. One Maryland political insider called the matter “murky....”

JUICE #3: MARYLAND TEACHERS BEGIN VETTING ALL FIVE 2014 GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES  - A Maryland Juice reader forwarded us news that this week, the 2014 governor's race is heading into full swing. The state's teachers union is formally interviewing all five 2014 gubernatorial candidates.  See the note below from an anonymous reader, along with a press announcement.

ANONYMOUS READER: I thought you might be interested in the below media advisory. Five prospective 2014 gubernatorial candidates plan to attend the 2012 Maryland State Education Association Annual Convention next week: Anthony Brown, Peter Franchot, Doug Gansler, Heather Mizeur, and Ken Ulman. They will be interviewed live by MSEA’s president, Betty Weller, for 10 minutes each. I believe this is the first time they’ll be appearing at the same event in the context of 2014. As you’ll see in the below release, Gov. O’Malley also will be in attendance, holding an hour-long town hall on Maryland’s public schools on Friday afternoon.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:    Maryland State Education Association

WHAT:    Annual Convention

WHEN:    October 19-20, 2012

WHERE:    Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD

MSEA President Betty Weller and over 600 delegates comprised of educators from across the state will gather for MSEA’s annual convention to set association policy, hear from prospective 2014 gubernatorial candidates,* and discuss major issues impacting Maryland’s students and educators with Governor Martin O’Malley and State Superintendent Lillian Lowery.

All events listed below will take place before the full convention in Hall A unless otherwise noted.

Highlights: Friday, October 19

9:30 a.m.: Interview with Howard County Executive Ken Ulman
9:45 a.m.: Keynote address by MSEA President Betty Weller
10:45 a.m.: Interview with Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery)
11:30 a.m.: Interview with Comptroller Peter Franchot
11:50 a.m.: Remarks by Governor Martin O’Malley
1:00-2:00 p.m.: Town Hall meeting on Maryland’s public schools with Gov. O’Malley (Ballroom C)
   
Highlights: Saturday, October 20

9:05 a.m.: Delegate Q&A with Maryland State Superintendent Lillian Lowery
9:40 a.m.: Remarks by MSEA Executive Director David Helfman
10:00 a.m.: Interview with Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown
10:30 a.m.: Remarks by 2012-2013 Maryland Teacher of the Year (tentative)
10:45 a.m.: Interview with Attorney General Doug Gansler
Members of the press are requested to obtain credentials at the Information Booth on the Convention Center’s first floor. For more information on the convention, visit marylandeducators.org/convention.

* Likely and frequently rumored candidates for governor from both parties were invited to participate in the 2012 MSEA Convention. Participants were scheduled per their availability.

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2014 GOVERNOR: Former Baltimore Exec Jim Smith Weighing Race? // PLUS: Del. Heather Mizeur's Ballot Question Web Ad

2014 GOVERNOR: Maryland's 2014 gubernatorial race is in full swing already, as several of the candidates are very active on the campaign trail. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown & Attorney General Doug Gansler will both be appearing at the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club barbecue this Saturday. Meanwhile, The Kent County News caught Howard County Executive Ken Ulman stumping for votes in Chestertown, Maryland. During remarks at a luncheon, Ulman outlined his views on government reform and Howard County's experiences (excerpt below):

KENT COUNTY NEWS: Kenneth Ulman, Democratic county executive of Howard County, was in Chestertown Friday, promoting a prospective run to succeed Martin O'Malley as governor. Speaking to a luncheon group at the Hotel Imperial, Ulman touted his success at bringing businesses to Howard County, and said he could do the same as governor....