Strange Bedfellows

Joseph “Prince of Darkness” Steffen offers his take on Al Redmer’s entry last week (officially, anyway) into the 7th District Senate race, where he’ll square off in the GOP primary against two-term Republican Del. J.B. Jennings.

Two’s company and three’s a crowd as Steffen, the former staffer for Gov. Robert Ehrlich who was caught up in the whole political firing brouhaha, muses about the possible entry of  Republican former Del. Ken Holt, who has been named as a possible candidate for several races in 2006 and again in the coming 2010 election cycle.

“Still, the possibilities for a raucous 7th District primary campaign are rife and if, as is being chattered about, well-heeled former Delegate Ken Holt enters the race as a bit of a dark horse, the possibilities will be even rifer. (Rifer?),” writes Steffen on his political blog, Darkness Rising.

Sen. Larry Haines returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Haines, a five-term Republican who represents the 5th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 5th District includes parts of northern Baltimore County, including Parkton and Hunt Valley and Phoenix.

Both Busch and Miller returned five days’ salary and asked fellow legislators to also give up between one and five days’ pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were being furloughed for up to five days based on individual salary levels.

By law, the salaries of state lawmakers cannot be increased or decreased during their term.

More than 150 legislators participated in the voluntary furlough days, including 25 of 29 legislators who represent Baltimore County, according to lists released by the House of Delegates and state Senate.

The lists did not contain the number of days each legislator voluntarily gave up. State officials said such information was protected by law as a personnel matter. Patuxent Publishing Co., publisher of this Web site, is asking each legislator who represents the county to voluntarily release information on the furlough days taken in late 2008 and early 2009.

Haines provided a copy of a form dated Dec. 22, 2008 showing that he authorized four days pay totaling $483.36 to be withheld.

Del. Todd Schuler returned five days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Schuler, a first-term Democrat who represents the 8th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 8th District includes Perry Hall, Parkville and Overlea. (more…)

Del. Pat McDonough returned five days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. McDonough, a two-term Republican who represents the 7th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 7th District includes Cockeysville, Honeygo and Middle River.

Both Busch and Miller returned five days’ salary and asked fellow legislators to also give up between one and five days’ pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were being furloughed for up to five days based on individual salary levels. (more…)

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.

Sen. Norman Stone returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Stone, an 11-term Democrat who represents the 6th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 6th District includes Dundalk and Essex.

Both Busch and Miller returned five days’ salary and asked fellow legislators to also give up between one and five days’ pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were being furloughed for up to five days based on individual salary levels. (more…)

For Del. Adrienne Jones, co-chair of the technically defunct Special Committee on Employee Rights and Protections , the pursuit of Craig Chesek is about one thing: “closure.”

That’s what she told me last week when I asked her why the state is continuing to try to enforce a subpoena ordering Chesek to be deposed by lawyers representing the committee. After all, the committee issued a final report nearly three years ago on alleged political firings under then Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

Chesek, an Ehrlich appointee to the Public Service Commission, is the lone holdout. He testified in 2006 but Jones and others felt Chesek failed to sufficiently answer some questions and subpoenaed him to testify a second time. (more…)

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.

Del. John Olszewski Jr. returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year.

Olzsewski, a Democrat who represents the 6th District, released documents today showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

The 6th District includes Dundalk and Essex.

Both Busch and Miller returned five days’ salary and asked fellow legislators to also give up between one and five days’ pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were being furloughed for up to five days based on individual salary levels. (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…)