Strange Bedfellows

Let’s face it, nothing is as political in any county as snow removal.

County executives have been nearly run out of town on a rail because of it. That’s why executives hold annual press conferences to tell county residents how they are preparing to keep the streets clear when the snow arrives.

Add to the political fodder a Monday night press release from county Republican Central Committee Chairman Chris Cavey, who criticized County Executive Jim Smith and the County Council for what he desribed as a failure to properly plan for last weekend’s blizzard.

“Everyone knew it was coming,” Cavey said. “They were calling it Snowmageddon and stuff like that.” (more…)

Chris Cavey, the chairman of the county’s Republican Central Committee, might be a fan of the county’s new single-stream recycling program, but he’s not a fan of a promotional postcard sent out by the county this week.

Mostly because Cavey is concerned the postcard, printed on glossy stock, is promoting the wrong thing — County Executive Jim Smith.

Cavey sent out a press release Tuesday afternoon, decrying the postcard and what he called Smith’s “endless and shameless self-promotion.”

In an interview, Cavey acknowledged he had not actually seen the postcard, but three people he said he trusted called and described it to him.

“Fifty percent of it is basically Jim Smith,” Cavey said in a phone interview. “Good golly, when you’re only sending a postcard, that’s a little over the top.

“I’m a big fan of recycling,” he continued. “It should have been an educational piece or a how-to-do-what-to-do piece.”

Now, to be honest, I hadn’t seen the postcard.

recyclepostcard

Don Mohler, a spokesman for Smith was kind enough to provide me with an electronic version. One side of it carries a picture of Smith — the same one used on the county Web site — along with some tips. It ends with Smith encouraging county residents to “Please join me by recycling all you can.”

Is it 50 percent of the mailing? Doesn’t look like it to me, but journalists are notoriously bad at numbers.

Information on the number of postcards mailed and the cost of production and mailing was not immediately available. I’ll update those when they’re released.

Of Cavey’s comments, Mohler said, “I assume Chris Cavey’s comments were tongue-in-cheek.  I know he can’t be serious. I applaud his sense of humor.”

The good news is, the postcards are printed on recycled paper stock. Both the postcard and Cavey’s release can be tossed into the single-stream recycling bin.

What do you think about the postcard? Is it self-promotion or an effective recycling education effort?

Democrats and Republicans got together in a day of volunteer service Saturday. By Sunday, the gloves had come off and it was politics as usual.

Chris Cavey, chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, issued a statement late Sunday night criticizing David Gildea and Michael Paul Smith for their development of a ticket of candidates that will run for at least three of the expected four open council seats next year. (more…)

It’s not Herbert Hoover’s promise of “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage,” but Chris Cavey, chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, is making one promise for the 2010 election season:

“We’re looking for, at a minimum, filling every slot on the ballot,” Cavey said. “In this upcoming election, we need to give voters a choice.”

Cavey’s not saying who will be filling all these slots. Local-level candidates have been tough to come by while there seems to be an abundance of Republicans running for seats in the General Assembly — especially in the 7th District.

A year of tea parties, spirited town hall meetings about health care, two councilmen with legal troubles and the continuing flaps over pensions for County Councilmen and raises for local elected officials have convinced Cavey that 2010 could be a pivotal moment for the GOP locally.

The party was in a similar position 20 years ago. Strong voter dissatisfaction and a property tax protest in the county led to Republican party gains in nearly every level of local government from sheriff to county executive.

Three Republicans were elected to the council. Donald Mason, a fiscally conservative Democratic councilman from Dundalk, frequently voted with Republicans and helped that party control the council for four years.

Roger Hayden, an underfunded county executive candidate, defeated Democratic incumbent Dennis Rasmussen.

Cavey believes there are a lot of reasons to hope for history to repeat itself next year. Not the least of which is what he and others believe is a growing sense of discontent among voters.

“I truly believe (voter) sentiment is running in that direction,” Cavey said.

Now all he needs are candidates.

Baltimore County Republican Central Committee Chairman Chris Cavey told me Tuesday night that he is withdrawing as a candidate for chairman of the state party.

Cavey forwarded an e-mail to me that he sent to party central committee members around the state.

Cavey provided no additional information and said he would be unavailable for most of the night.

Cavey was one of three candidates vying for the post. His withdrawal leaves only Audrey Scott and Daniel “The Wig Man” Vovak (so named because of his penchant for wearing powdered colonial-style wigs during his 2006 U.S. Senate race).

A final vote is expected Nov. 14 at the state party convention in Bowie.

Here is Cavey’s e-mail: (more…)

County Executive Jim Smith is moving from Reisterstown, where he has lived his entire life, to Cockeysville.

Smith says he and his wife, Sandy, are downsizing from their current large home to a smaller one. A side benefit is the new home is in the 7th District, which happens to have an open Senate seat in 2010. Smith said the move gives him the opportunity to consider running for the seat. (more…)

Chris Cavey, the chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, said Wednesday he will seek to replace Jim Pelura as the state party chairman.

Cavey said he sent letters to 243 Republican Central Committee members from around the state and met with four county committees last week. He has four more similar meetings scheduled for this week, including two Wednesday night.

“It’s just a campaign like any other campaign,” Cavey said. “I have 243 doors to knock on.”

Pelura, who has been under fire from fellow Republicans, including Cavey, announced he was resigning from the position effective Nov. 14, the date of the next statewide Republican central committee convention in Bowie. The new chairman will be elected at that meeting.

Cavey, who is first vice president of the state party, is the only announced Baltimore County candidate for the top GOP post in Maryland.

If he wins he will have to give up his role as chairman of the county party — a position he has held since he was appointed in December 2002.

State Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura’s resignation announcement last week could have an effect on the  Republican party here in Baltimore County.

Chris Cavey, the chairman of the party’s central committee in the county, said he is considering the possibility of replacing Pelura.

“I honestly don’t know right now,” said Cavey, who is also the first vice president for the GOP in Maryland. “I need some time to think about it. It could be fun. I just have to see.”

The position does not come without a cost. If Cavey wants to guide the state party, he’ll have to give up his position as chairman of the Baltimore County Central Committee.

Last week, former Del. Al Redmer sent an e-mail to supporters saying he was not interested in the position.

Ellen Sauerbrey’s name has also been mentioned, according to a report by Alan Brody of The Gazette.

The state party is expected to elect its next chairman at its state convention in Bowie on Nov. 14.

Joseph “Prince of Darkness” Steffen has added his voice to the chatter related to the recent driving under the influence arrest of County Councilman Sam Moxley.

Steffen, a former staffer for Gov. Robert Ehrlich, reports in his blog Darkness Rising that there is “a movement afoot to draft Bob Ehrlich to run against Moxley.”

No, not the former governor. The former governor’s father, Robert Ehrlich Sr. (more…)

Remember the dust up back in the mid-1990s about an allegedly math challenged Barbie? That’s the doll some claimed said, “Math is hard.”

Meet her counterpart, the Campaign Finance Ken doll.

OK, he doesn’t really exist. After all, what kind of kid would want to play with him? (Other than maybe political reporters, that is.) (more…)