GOP should select Simonaire as minority leader

A social and fiscal conservative, Republican Bryan Simonaire has represented his district well since winning a state Senate seat in 2006.

So when he announced Wednesday his intention to seek a party leadership post, it could certainly be seen as further proof Anne Arundel County is the center of the Republican Party inMaryland.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is from Annapolis. If Simonaire wins election as minority leader, he would join fellow Pasadena Republican Nic Kipke, House minority leader, as party leaders in the General Assembly.

Simonaire’s ascendancy would represent, perhaps, a rightward shift from outgoing minority leader J.B. Jennings, who along with Senate Minority Whip Steve Hershey Jr. said Wednesday they will not seek reelection to their caucus spots.

Jennings, who represents Baltimore and Harford County, and Hershey, who represents Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, are the longestserving leaders in caucus history.

Both were effective at working with Sen. Mike Miller during his long career as Senate president.

Yet if that is true, it’s also true that Senate Democrats are moving left under Senate President Bill Fergurson and a young cadre of new committee chairs.

It is fitting then for the party to turn to Simonaire, an unbending voice against issues conservatives tend to oppose on broad grounds, such assame-sexmarriage, gun safety legislation, death with dignity and massive expansion of spending on public education. He has fallen short on issues outside his party’s comfort zone, for example, staying silent during public discussions of racism in his community.

Yet he remains a prolific legislator, finding room in the margins where he can work on issues where there is an agreement with the Democratic majority or at least enough agreement.

In the most recent session, for example, he was the primary sponsor on seven bills that made it into law. Those pieces of legislation focused on a cross-party effort to reform liquor laws in Anne Arundel County, run-of-the-mill good government bills on subjects like litter and other topics.

Simonaire can show passion for issues that touch him personally, such as legislation expanding a program that provides comfort dogs for child witnesses in courtrooms.

The Courthouse Dog and Child Witness Pilot Program has been part of Anne Arundel county courts since February 2018. Child witnesses eligible for the program are identified by the state’s attorney’s office, a best interest attorney or a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer who sends a request to the court’s administrative judge for approval.

Sometimes his passion for conservative beliefs has been painful. He split publicly with his daughter, then-Del. Meagan Simonaire, when he spoke in opposition to a 2018 bill banning conversion therapy for gay and lesbian adults. The therapy is widely considered inhumane, and young Simonairecameout as bisexual in a speech on the House floor. She said her family encouraged her to seek such therapy. The elder Simonaire said he had encouraged Christian counseling and wasn’t aware of the term “conversion therapy” at the time.

Friends say the family has since reconciled.

Make no mistake, being a minority leader in the Senate is a tough job. Republicans hold just 15 seats in the 47-member chamber. Successful minority leaders leverage the respect of both their caucus and the majority leadership with a deep understanding of Senate traditions and rules to advance their party’s ideals. Simonaire has all of those things. Maryland’s secondmost seniorRepublican senator, he has a reputation of being professional and prepared whether he is on the floor or on the committee. After 14 years in Annapolis, he has proven himself adept at understanding howto be effective in a perpetual minority. He has the respect of his peers.

The Republican caucus will elect new leaders to one-year terms Saturday when members meet in Annapolis. Sen. Michael Hough of Frederick County said he has put his candidacy forward for minority whip.

We urge the senators to choose Bryan Simonaire as minority leader.