George Wenschhof
 |
| Blaine Young |
 |
| Jan Gardner |
The change
to charter government was approved by referendum in the 2012 election.
The
significant difference is voters will elect a county executive to be the
administrator of Frederick County government and a council to complete the
balance of power prevalent in American democracy.
The two
names, everyone already has in their minds, which are likely to run for county
executive are current Frederick Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) president
Blaine Young (R) and former three term member and BoCC president Jan Gardner
(D).
If, these
two would become candidates and end up facing each other in a general election,
it would be a classic battle between distinctly different political
ideologies. In addition, there is no
love lost between these two.
Furthermore,
the campaign cost is expected to easily reach $250,000 and the figure of
$500,000 is entirely possible. Blaine
Young, who flirted with a run for Governor, already has an impressive war
chest.
Blaine,
has yet to formally announce he is running, leaving some aspiring Republican
candidates hanging, as they know they would not be able to beat him in the
primary.
There are also
some who wish to see long term BoCC member David Gray (R), run against Blaine
in the Republican primary, thinking he would at least weaken Blaine prior to
the general election. It is merely wishful
thinking on their part, due to Gray has no history of raising funds and would
likely get trounced by Blaine Young in the primary.
Jan
Gardner, who I reported had established a candidate committee one month ago, is
busy raising cash, calling on donors daily as she moves closer to filing for
the seat.
But,
before this colossal confrontation can take place, there are other influential
individuals in the community who are considering a run for county executive, throwing a
potential monkey wrench in the much anticipated Young-Gardner duel.
There are
two impressive names who have surfaced; Gordon Cooley and Earl Robbins, both of
them have extensive business and community involvement in Frederick County. Cooley is a registered Democrat and when last
checked, so was Robbins.
Cooley
served 19 years as general counsel for F&M Bancorp and was recently the regional
president for PNC Bank.
Robbins
was a long term Alcoa Eastalco executive, with government relations experience
in Annapolis, who presently chairs The City of Frederick downtown
hotel/conference center committee.
Robbins and
Cooley also served on the Frederick county board of education and chamber of
commerce.
Cooley is chair of the Weinberg center for The Arts, a member of Interfaith Housing Alliance,
and former president of the Frederick County Bar Association.
Robbins is
vice chair of Frederick County Business Development Advisory Committee, on the
Hood College Board of Associates and was a alternate member of the charter
writing board.
Word is
Gordon Cooley is making the rounds, talking with folks as he contemplates a run
for county executive.
Jan Gardner
would be faced with a formidable opponent in either Cooley or Robbins, who are
well known in the professional community.
However, Jan
would have an initial edge in direct political experience, in campaigning and voter
identification.
A closely contested and costly Democratic primary might serve to Blaine Young’s
advantage.
On the otherhand, Blaine may not fare well against a seasoned professional businessman as his Democratic opponent.
On the otherhand, Blaine may not fare well against a seasoned professional businessman as his Democratic opponent.
Look to
see announcements made by candidates for county executive to happen shortly after
The City of Frederick election on November 5.
Candidates will not want their campaign announcement to get lost in the
holiday hoopla that begins with Thanksgiving and lasts into early January.
Stay
tuned.
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