Strange Bedfellows

Jim Smith’s planned move to Cockeysville and expected announcement that he will run for the open Senate seat that represents the 7th District has had a ripple effect.

Specifically, Councilman Vince Gardina, who was raising money for what many thought would be a run for the same senate seat, is rethinking things.

“I’m not running if the county executive runs,” said Gardina, who added that he “never really had the gumption to run for (senate), though.”

Gardina said he has spoken to Smith about running in the district but offered no insight on a possible decision by the county executive.

Smith has said publicly that he’ll wait until after the General Assembly session next year before making a  decision.

Gardina, a five-term Democrat who represents Perry Hall, Parkville and Towson, announced in September that he would not seek re-election.

He has continued to raise money and is thought to have between $250,000 to $300,000 in his campaign account.

Now, he said he’s looking at his options “politically and personally.”

“I’m looking at possibly not running for anything,” Gardina said, adding that he might consider running for House of Delegates in the  7th District.

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…)

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…)

The home at 107 Chestnut Hill Lane W in Resiterstown has six bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and just two previous owners — one of whom happens to be a two-term county executive.

And Jim Smith’s home can be yours for less than $500,000, according to an online real estate listing

Mohler and Gary Realty is handling the sale. The company is owned by Jeff Mohler, son of Smith spokesman Don Mohler. (more…)

Today’s local government lesson: You have to be fast if you want to claim credit for something good.

That comes courtesy of Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, who was one of a half-dozen county officials who were present to announce that crime in Baltimore County decreased during the first six months of 2009. The decrease is a continuation of a trend that stretches back more than a decade and has resulted in crime rates per 100,000 people that are as low as the rates in 1976, when the county had fewer people within its borders, according to Police Chief Jim Johnson. (more…)

The folks over at Maryland Politics Watch have published a bunch of photos taken at various parties during the Maryland Association of Counties conference, which took place in Ocean City last week.

According to the politics blog, the photos were posted on a Facebook page by a staffer who works for Gov. Martin O’Malley. Some of the photos were later removed and access to the Facebook page was eventually restricted, according to Maryland Politics Watch.

But the blog downloaded many of the photos and posted them on its own Web site. Some of the photos appear to have been taken at a reception hosted by County Executive Jim Smith.

State Del. Steve Lafferty is calling on county officials to hold public meetings to explain how speed camera legislation will be implemented in the county.

Lafferty, a Democrat and supporter of speed cameras, said “it is incumbent upon the county to use (the meetings) as an educational session.”

“I’ve not heard from any community that doesn’t feel (speed cameras) will be a valuable tool if used correctly,” said Lafferty, who represents the 42nd District including Towson, Lutherville-Timonium and part of Pikesville. (more…)

County Executive Jim Smith is out of the comptroller’s race, and the conventional wisdom is that he’s going to use his war chest of more than $1 million to set himself up as a king maker.

If he does, Steve Bailey, a Republican state’s attorney candidate in 2006, thinks influencing the 2010 election and Smith anointing his own successor would violate the rules of fair play.

“It’s not a Republican or Democratic issue,” said Bailey, who acknowledged that if Republicans were in power they would use the laws to their advantage. “It’s a good government issue.” (more…)

A fundraising event for Jon Cardin has sparked talk that the two-term delegate might be considering a run county executive.

Cardin, the nephew of Sen. Ben Cardin, said he is not “an unofficial or unannounced candidate” but acknowledged that an event scheduled for next month has caused tongues to wag.

“I’ve asked people if they think it’s a legitimate thing,” Cardin said. “I’ve had lots of people tell me they think that it’s possible. I certainly have teased this idea a little bit.” (more…)

In Baltimore County, vetoes of County Council bills are rare.

Unanimous passage of most bills usually signals that the council — with two more votes than the five required for a veto override — can overturn any attempt to thwart its legislative will. (more…)