Strange Bedfellows

Two weeks ago I wrote that Al Redmer is close to announcing a return to  politics and is considering a run for the 7th District Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Andy Harris.

Redmer sent an e-mail to supporters Monday, alerting them to a “no-cost, campaign kick-off” event on Nov. 11.

But for what?

Redmer, a Republican former delegate and state insurance commissioner, won’t say.

I pointed out an e-mail he sent to supporters in which he asked them to hold off on donating money to candidates in the 7th District Senate race. In a post here two weeks ago, Redmer confirmed that he wrote the e-mail in which, in part, states, “Make no mistake, the Senate race in D7 is critical to the state and to the Republican party.”

Redmer wouldn’t budge.

“I want to preserve some of the mystery,” Redmer said.

Isn’t that kind of like the political equivalent of putting pasties on Blaze Starr?

Redmer laughed.

“Maybe,” he said.

Al Redmer appears to be within weeks of officially making his expected entrance into the 7th District senate race.

In a September e-mail to potential supporters, Redmer wrote:

“As you have no doubt heard, I have been considering my own bid for the State Senate in District 7.  My announcement and kickoff will  occur in the next four-six weeks. (more…)

Four Baltimore County legislators were not on the list of 155 senators and delegates who gave up at least one day’s pay as part of a voluntary program in January.

That doesn’t mean all of those four kept the money. Two, in fact, Del. Bill Frank and Sen. Andy Harris, both Republicans, announced they would give up the pay — just not to the state.

Instead, they both said they would make a donation to charity.

Patuxent Publishing Co., publisher of this Web site, is asking the 29 legislators who represent Baltimore County to voluntarily release information showing how many days pay they gave up in January. The House of Delegates and Senate declined to provide that information when asked last month, saying the information was a personnel matter. (more…)

Del. J.B. Jennings will give up the District 7 House of Delegates seat he has held since 2002 and will instead run for that district’s state Senate seat in 2010.

Jennings, a Republican, confirmed his intentions in an interview. He made a more formal announcement at his fundraiser Friday night, an annual event that includes a polo match.

Sen. Andy Harris, who currrently represents the district, announced earlier this year he will give up his Senate seat for a rematch against Rep. Frank Kratovil, a first-term Democrat.

Jennings is the only officially-announced candidate for the Senate district that stretches from Cockeysville and parts of Perry Hall and Middle River to part of western Harford County.

Two others, Democratic Councilman Vince Gardina and Republican former delegate and state Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, are also said to be considering campaigning for the seat.

Al Redmer, the former state insurance commissioner and Republican state delegate from Perry Hall, has everything he needs for a 2010 political campaign save one — an office to run for.

Redmer, who now lives on the Middle River waterfront, acknowledges an interest in the upcoming campaign season. Last week he had brochures printed with a brief biography. He plans to start handing them out door to door within the week. (more…)

Republican Del. Pat McDonough says that despite rumors, he is not interested in the 7th District state Senate seat held by Sen. Andy Harris.

“I’m definitely not,” McDonough said.

“I’ve not uttered one statement (about the senate seat) publicly or privately,” McDonough said.

“It’s either county executive or House of Delegates,” McDonough said. (more…)

Republican State Sen. Andy Harris has been leading the charge against the screening of a triple-X rated movie on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park but he’s not the only county elected official who is concerned.

County Executive Jim Smith issued a brief statement April 2 via Twitter condemning the screening of Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge. (more…)

Who’d have thought a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new library could stir up hard feelings?

David Marks and other representatives of the Perry Hall Improvement Association showed up to a ceremony to officially open the new library branch in Perry Hall armed with an oversized $20,o00 check — money raised from community residents and business to support on-going programs at the long-anticipated facility.

Marks, president of the association, said he was disappointed when the group wasn’t mentioned during a 30-minute ceremony featuring County Executive Jim Smith and library officials. (more…)

If you happened to be in Cafe Troia in Towson today for lunch you might have seen Democratic Sen. Jim Brochin lunching with John Fiastro, president of the 42nd District Republican Club.

Politics was not only on the menu, it was the reason the two were there as Fiastro was making good on a wager the two made about the outcome of one precinct in the Sen. Andy Harris - Frank Kratovil congressional race. (more…)

Michael Pappas, a Perry Hall resident, might be the first Republican to declare his interest in running for Maryland governor in 2010.

On Dec. 9, Pappas, who has never run for public office, formed an exploratory committee to look at a possible run for governor in two years. (more…)