Balto. Co. endorsements
A battleground jurisdiction in statewide contests, Baltimore County shows voters some difficult choices in both parties’ primaries
Our view:
Baltimore County has been a key battleground between Maryland Democrats and Republicans for years, so it’s no surprise that it is the site of competitive House of Delegates and state Senate primaries for both parties. Here are The Sun’s endorsements:
6th District
Republican Sen. Johnny R. Salling, faces a challenge from businesswoman Janice Lee Dymowski. Mr. Salling, a veteran and former steelworker, has been attentive to his district on issues like economic development. He has our endorsement. The incumbent delegates in the race, Robin L. Grammer Jr., Robert B. Long and Ric Metzgar, face a challenge from Jake Mohorovic, who served two terms in the House as a Democrat. We suspect that’s not what Republican voters in District 6 are looking for. We endorse the incumbents.
On the Democratic side, we endorse Buddy Staigerwald, an electrician and volunteer firefighter, who was active in the fight over the county’s plans to redevelop the North Point Government Center. For delegate, we endorse Justin Holliday, just 22 and working his way through college as a server and union shop steward at Camden Yards; Megan Ann Mioduszewski, who has deep family roots in Dundalk and a record of service in community organizations; and Nicholas D’Adamo Jr., the former Baltimore City councilman.
7th District
District 7 has been ably represented by Sen. J.B. Jennings since 2011, and he is running unopposed in the Republican primary. In the House race, Del. Kathy Szeliga is a political star and a leader in the GOP caucus in Annapolis. She has our endorsement. We do not endorse the other incumbent, Del. Rick Impallaria, but hope voters will instead support Tammy Larkin, a long-time GOP activist, and Lauren Arikan, a farmer and small-business owner with a strong track record of community involvement.
Democrat Donna Hines is unopposed in the Senate primary, and only two Democrats, Allison Berkowitz and Gerald Koerner, are running for the three slots in the House.
8th District
Democratic Sen. Kathy Klausmeier’s challenger dropped out of the race. Among the Democrats running for the House, incumbent Del. Eric Bromwell has our support. He is a centrist, pro-business legislator with a track record of working across the aisle. We also endorse Harry Bhandari, an immigrant from Nepal and a teacher who focuses on early childhood education. Finally, we endorse Carl Jackson, an administrator at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. His experience in caring for his disabled grandmother has made him particularly attuned to issues involving seniors.
Del. Christian Miele, an attorney with thoughtful and moderate stances on the key issues Maryland faces, is the lone Republican candidate for Senate. Among those running for the House, we endorse the three Joes — Del. Joe Cluster, former Del. Joseph C. Boteler III and Joe Norman. Mr. Cluster, a former executive director of the Maryland Republican Party, is a close ally of Gov. Larry Hogan. Mr. Boteler has strong ideas on public safety. And Mr. Norman, a real estate professional, espouses practical, fiscally responsible policies on health care, transportation and the environment.
10th District
Democrat Rob Johnson, who ran unsuccessfully for delegate four years ago, is back with a challenge to incumbent Sen. Delores G. Kelley. Mr. Johnson is smart, focused and deeply involved in the community. But Senator Kelley’s engagement on racial and social justice issues provides a crucial perspective in the Senate, and she has our endorsement. In the House, Del. Adrienne A. Jones is the clear top choice. She is the right-hand woman to House Speaker Michael E. Busch and gives her district tremendous clout in Annapolis. Del. Benjamin Brooks also earns our endorsement for his strong work on environmental issues as well as his commitment to education. For the third slot, we endorse Lauren Lipscomb, a Baltimore City prosecutor who focuses on early childhood education and issues of public safety and justice.
Educator and state Department of Transportation official Stephanie Boston is unopposed in the Republican Senate primary. In the House GOP primary, we endorse George Harmon, the 2014 Republican nominee for county executive; Brian Marcos, a former county police officer whose views on education, public safety and health care are well attuned to his district; and Michael Tyrone Brown Sr., whose experience working in the state Department of Juvenile Services gives him an important perspective on that troubled agency.
11th District
State Sen. Bobby Zirkin faces a tough challenge this year from retired attorney Sheldon Laskin, who has galvanized the support Sen. Delores G. Kelley faces a tough challenge, but the 10th District is well represented by this champion of social and racial justice. of many progressive voters who believe the incumbent is wrong on crucial issues. In some respects — such as bail reform — we agree with them. But Mr. Zirkin, the chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, isn’t easy to pin down. He was the driving force behind Maryland’s decriminalization of marijuana, and he has a strong environmental record, including leadership in the state’s decision to ban fracking. He has our endorsement. In the delegates race, we endorse both incumbents, Dels. Dana Stein and Shelly Hettleman, who have been strong leaders in Annapolis. For the third seat, we endorse the comeback bid of former Del. Jon Cardin. The issues he focused on during his previous stint in the legislature — cyberbullying, election security and domestic violence — have only become more salient since.
No Republican is running for state Senate in the 11th, and only one Republican, Jonathan Porter, is running for the House.
12th District
Two strong Democratic candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by Ed Kasemeyer — Howard County Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty and Del. Clarence Lam. Ms. Sigaty brings local government experience to the race, but we endorse Dr. Lam. His expertise in state health care policy will prove crucial as Maryland seeks to protect and expand the gains made under the Affordable Care Act. We also endorse the incumbent delegates, Terri Hill, another physician and health policy guru, and Eric Ebersole, a long-time educator with ties in both the Howard and Baltimore County sides of the district. Among several strong candidates for the third slot, we endorse Jessica Feldmark, who served as former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman’s chief of staff.
Joseph D. “Joe” Hooe, a Baltimore business owner, is unopposed for the Republican Senate nomination, as are Bob Cockey, Melanie Harris and Michael Russell in the GOPHouse primary.
42nd District
In the Democratic primary to replace Jim Brochin, who is running for county executive, we endorse Robbie Leonard, an attorney with a strong social justice compass from years working on lead poisoning cases and as a public defender. Del. Steve Lafferty, a long-time champion of public schools and inclusive housing policies, is unopposed in the primary in District 42A. In District 42B, we endorse Daniel Nemec, who combines progressive politics with the analytical mind of a CPA, and Michelle Guyton, a developmental psychologist and member of the state Board of Education, who has a strong focus on the educational needs of children with disabilities.
Del. Chris West, a rising star in the House GOP caucus, is running unopposed for the GOP Senate nomination in the 42nd. Stephen A. McIntire, an entrepreneur and finance professional, is unopposed in the Republican primary for delegate in District 42A. In District 42B, we endorse Dr. Tim Robinson, who has remained active in county politics since his close loss to Senator Brochin four years ago. We also endorse his ticket-mate, Nino Mangione, who works for WCBMradio and focuses his platform on supporting small businesses and maintaining fiscal responsibility.
44th District
Aletheia McCaskill, who owns and operates a child care center in Western Baltimore County, is challenging incumbent Sen. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam. Ms. McCaskill has an admirable focus on early childhood development and pro-family policies, but we endorse Senator Nathan-Pulliam in recognition of her work to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities in health. In District 44B, we endorse Del. Charles E. Sydnor III, an attorney who has made a name for himself in Annapolis on civil justice and consumer rights issues, and Aisha Khan, a Pakistani immigrant and small-business owner with a strong appreciation for the value of education and economic opportunity.
Baltimore GOP stalwart Victor Clark Jr. is running unopposed for the Republican Senate nomination. No Republicans filed for the House in District 44B.