Lobbyist questions candidate’s character
Says Adams is breaking a promise not to run for Circuit Court judge position
Former Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams is running for Circuit Court judge after filing late Friday, but he is being accused by a prominent Annapolis lobbyist of breaking a promise not to run.
Adams filed for the seat Friday evening. He was previously the Anne Arundel County state’s attorney, until he lost reelection in 2018 to current State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. The deadline to file election paperwork was 9 p.m. Friday.
Adams was the final person to file for the judicial seat before the deadline. He did not immediately return a request for comment. He was appointed the Charles County attorney in May 2019.
Annette DeCesaris, who ran in 2018 but lost, also filed for the judicial race.
After filing for the race, Adams was
criticized by Annapolis lobbyist Bruce Bereano, who was at the Maryland State Board of Elections. He said Adams promised him and others that he would not run against judges appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan. Bereano called the decision to file an example of bad character.
The two exchanged testy words at the board.
“He wants to be a judge, and part of being a judge is evaluating and determining the credibility of witnesses, and he is not honest himself. There is a problem there of character,” Bereano said Saturday.
This past summer, Bereano said he asked Adams about running for circuit court judge and was surprised and shocked to see Adams file last minute.
“You are judged by what you do. He clearly lied and went back on his word, and breached his commitment to a number of
people, and I think it is grossly wrong, and I think it speaks volumes about the kind of human being he is,” he said.
Adams did not return multiple phone calls to comment on the encounter Friday and Bereano’s further comments.
Adams and DeCesaris will face a slate of four judges running for reelection, all of whom were appointed by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.
Hogan is able to appoint judges when vacancies occur, but those judges must run in the next election race. Winners earn a 15-year term. Judicial races are considered non-partisan, so judges’ names appear on both Republican and Democratic primary ballots.
The incumbent slate is made-up of Circuit Court judges Pamela Alban, Elizabeth Morris, Rob Thompson and Richard Trunnell. Trunnell was added to the slate of judges following his appointment late last year. Alban, Morris and Thompson were appointed in October 2018.
The four judges have bipartisan support from local lawmakers and the county police union.
Morris is the only black member of the Anne Arundel Circuit Court and the first black woman to hold that position. She is the third black judge in the court’s history dating back to the 1970s.
Candidates running for Congressional District 2:
■ Scott M. Collier, of Baltimore, Republican
■ Tim Fazenbaker, of Baltimore, Republican
■ Rick Impallaria, of Joppatown, Republican
■ Carl H. Magee, Jr., of Baltimore, Republican
■ Genevieve Morris, of Columbia, Republican
■ Johnny Ray Salling, of Baltimore, Republican
■ Jim Simpson, of Lutherville, Republican
■ Blaine Taylor, of Towson, Republican
■ Michael Feldman, of Baltimore, Democrat
■ Jake Pretot, of Laurel, Democrat
■ C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, of Timonium, Democrat (incumbent)
Candidates running for Congressional District 3:
■ Charles Anthony, of Silver Spring, Republican
■ Reba A. Hawkins, of Baltimore, Republican
■ Joshua M. Morales, of Crownsville, Republican
■ Rob Seyfferth, of Annapolis, Republican
■ Joseph C. Ardito, of Baltimore, Democrat
■ John M. Rea, of Annapolis, Democrat
■ John Sarbanes, of Baltimore, Democrat (incumbent)
■ Thomas E. “Pinkston” Harris, of Baltimore, Republican
Candidates running for Congressional District 4:
■ Nnabu Eze, of Pikesville, Republican
■ Eric Loeb, of Cheverly, Republican
■ George E. McDermott, of Forest Heights, Republican
■ Anthony G. Brown, of Bowie, Democrat (incumbent)
■ Sheila Bryant, of Upper Marlboro, Democrat
■ Kim A. Shelton, of Laurel, Democratic
Candidates running for Congressional District 5:
■ Bryan DuVal Cubero, of Lexington Park, Republican
■ Lee Havia, of College Park, Republican
■ Kenneth Lee, of Huntingtown, Republican
■ Chris Palombi, of St. Leonard, Republican
■ Doug Sayers, of La Plata, Republican
■ William A. Devine III, of Bowie, Democrat
■ Vanessa Marie Hoffman, of Columbia, Democrat
■ Steny H. Hoyer, of Bowie, Democrat (incumbent)
■ Briana Urbina, of Hyattsville, Democrat
■ McKayla Wilkes, of Waldorf, Democrat