Frederick County, Maryland Candidate Field Set

George Wenschhof

Part 1

The deadline of July 6 by 9:00 PM for potential candidates to file has come and gone with Frederick County Board of Election workers heading home after a long day. An update of all of the candidates running for office was made at 9:34 PM on their website which you can read here.

Here is a very quick early run down of the local candidates who now have ten weeks to campaign before the September 14 primary election.

Without counting the nonpartisan Board of Education election or the district 6 congressional race, there are 20 local races at stake. Currently, Democrats represent only four of those positions.

Let's start with County Commissioner, where voters from each political party will nominate five candidates to move on to the general election on November 2. Look to see the familiar "growth v. no-growth" theme dominate the campaign even though those words will not be used.

Also expect some candidates from each political party to campaign together as was done four years ago and helped four candidates (two from each party) be elected. Those were Republicans David Gray and John "Lenny" Thompson, along with Democrats Jan Gardner and Kai Hagen. Gone are Thompson (running for delegate in 4-A) and Gardner ( stepping down after three terms in office).

Republican candidates were abundant, with thirteen filing. Democrats had seven candidates file, ensuring a competitive primary which did not take place four years ago when only four candidates filed. An unlucky 13 and a lucky seven? Time will tell.

The first edge goes to those candidates with name recognition, the next edge will be platform. Finally, those with strong campaign organization and fundraising will be formidable. Also, look to see if some of the Republican candidates come together to run as a slate to help them get more attention from the voters. The other thing to look for is a bipartisan slate similar to the 2006 election with a "managed growth" platform or let's stay the course.

A few competitive candidates will try to stay above the fray and run somewhat "independent" campaigns.

Republicans David Gray (incumbent) and Bob White will most likely try to pair up with Democratic candidates Kai Hagen (incumbent), Ellis Burrus, Janice Wiles, Caroline Eader, and Linda Norris with Linda Norris trying to keep some distance. Outside of David Gray, who voted for the Waste to Energy Incinerator, the rest will likely campaign to overturn that decision.

On the Democratic side, that leaves Jerry Trout and Michael Kurtianyk. The Trout name is known well in northern Frederick county, but elsewhere he is relatively unknown and his positions on the issues yet to be articulated. Kurtianyk has spent his entire campaign so far working to win over Republican voters and now will have to contend with a challenging Democratic primary. These two candidates (Trout and Kurtianyk) are likely to be battling for the fifth and final slot in the Democratic primary.

It would not be hard to imagine Republicans Blaine Young, Adam Avery, Kirby Delauter and Billy Shreeve coming together and running on a "time for a change" platform along with a promise to bring jobs to Frederick county. Expect this foursome to be competitive.

Republicans Micky Fyock and Elaine Kessinger ran four years ago and did not fare well. Do not look to see them do better this time around. Roy Taylor is an unknown, who unless he is grouped with other stronger candidates, is not likely to move on to the general election.

Dick Johnson's notoriety; unfortunately for him, has been some sort of disagreement between a construction company he formerly owned and a fire company who hired them.

Paul Smith and Alan Imhoff were both shown the door last year by City of Frederick voters after just one term in office. Their hope has to be to appeal to the voters as reasonable and not part of either the "growth or no growth" slates. An uphill battle, but possible, as voters may not buy into what may emerge with slates of candidates or the campaigning together of candidates.

The last Republican candidate is Bob Craig, an intelligent man who was last heard from questioning the ridiculous early retirement and employee buy-out plan adopted during the last administration by the City of Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen. This ill-fated vote helped pave the way to the exit door for previously mentioned Republican candidates Paul Smith and Alan Imhoff.

Well, that's the field for county commissioner. Tomorrow, I will take a quick look at the delegate and state senate races.

Remember, it's you the voters who make the decision on who moves on to represent your political party in the general election. Take the time to visit candidate campaign websites and Facebook pages as well as to try to meet them.

Most of all, remember to vote on September 14. Your vote does make a difference.

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