Smith’s out, but questions remain
County Executive Jim Smith’s recent announcement raised questions pertaining to his future and what might happen to the more than $1 million he has raised since being re-elected in 2006.
Smith’s statement (you can read it here) is all we have to go on officially. The county executive declined to be interviewed on the subject before leaving town to visit a daughter (who was expecting to give birth this week).
But sources within the Smith campaign were willing to shed some light on the subject.
First, it seems clear from his own words that Smith didn’t have the fire in the belly to run for comptroller. The position is not one where he could direct public policy, the source said.
“I always sought the opportunity to serve because I thought I could make a real difference — as a councilman, a judge, and currently as County Executive. I did not feel that passion when considering a run for Comptroller,” Smith wrote in his July 6 release.
Couple that with the fact that Smith would likely need $3 million to wage a television campaign (DC-area TV time is very expensive) against Democratic incumbent Comptroller Peter Franchot. That money would not likely be raised through large events, but via house parties similar to those held by Attorney General Douglas Gansler.
That’s a lot of work, and perhaps the juice suddenly appeared to not be worth the squeeze.
So now what?
Apparently everything is status quo.
Despite rumors of possible appointments to higher state courts and open state cabinet level seats, Smith is clearly sending the message that he will not pull a Sarah Palin and leave before his term expires in December 2010.
In past interviews, Smith has been clear he has no interest in returning to the bench. Been there, done that he tells me.
Pragmatically speaking, he’s 67 and the state Court of Appeals has a mandatory retirement age of 70; not to mention the issue of finding him an open seat.
Smith is likely interested in a cabinet-level seat should Gov. Martin O’Malley be re-elected to a second term next fall, a Smith campaign source tells me.
And what about that money?
Smith’s fund raising efforts are expected slow down over the next few months and some planned events are being re-tooled.
But he’s raised more than $1 million, and theories abound as to what will happen next.
“Even if (Smith) were to run for state office, it seems clear that he wants to have a say in who succeeds him” as county executive, said Republican Councilman Bryan McIntire.
There’s been talk in political circles that a third Democrat will join Councilmen Joseph Bartenfelder and Kevin Kamenetz — two supposed candidates — in running for county executive. (Don Hutchinson, anyone?)
For now, Smith is content to keep his powder dry and “has made no decisions on how to spend the money,” the source within the Smith campaign said.
Smith did move more $450,000 to Scott Shellenberger’s successful 2006 state’s attorney campaign — an unprecedented move in county politics. He could, in theory, do the same thing for Hutchinson or any other candidate.
Campaign officials say no. At least not today. But the possibility was left open for transfers in the future.
Stay tuned.