Rolle Wants Voters to Decide

George Wenschhof

Scott Rolle

Former Frederick County, Maryland state’s attorney Scott Rolle(R) is running for Frederick County Circuit Court Judge after failing to receive an appointment from Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley(D).

During my interview, neither one of us could remember a Judge being elected in Frederick County.  The last to try was former county commissioner John “Lennie” Thompson, who challenged and lost to Theresa Adams, who was appointed by Governor Robert Ehrlich(R).

Rolle explained to me the judicial nominating process and said he was one of eight who applied to the judicial nominating commission.  The commission consists of 13 members, 10 of whom are appointed by the governor and he believed the Maryland State Bar Association appoints the other 3 members.

Applicants fill out an extensive application and are also interviewed by the commission.  In this case 5 of the 8 names who submitted an application were forwarded to the Governor to interview and make a selection.

Governor Martin O’Malley(D) appointed Earl Bartgis(D) to District Court Judge and Danny O’Connor(D) to Circuit Court Judge in Frederick County. 

Rolle informed me 2 Republicans; Dino Flores and Rick Sandy were among the 5 names forwarded to the Governor and he felt both were extremely well qualified, adding “if either one had been appointed he would not have run”.

When I asked him “Should all Judges be elected?” he said the selection process was political and few Republicans have been appointed Judge by Governor O’Malley.  Rolle went on to say “there was a strong argument for both appointment and election, but allowing voters to decide is best in this case”.

I asked him “why he felt he was a better choice than O’Connor for Circuit Court Judge?” and Rolle responded with his lengthy trial experience.

Scott Rolle served three terms as Frederick County state’s attorney, an elected position, and told me he has a combined 27 years of experience in court trying cases.  Rolle added “along with my military experience, the lessons I learned have taught me respect for the rule of law”.

In response to my question “did he expect to receive the support from the local legal community?” he said he had received lots of thank you comments since filing.  However, Rolle said “I do not believe voters want to see lawyers deciding this election”.

Another question I asked was “if he intended, if elected, to use this position as a stepping stone to another elected position, pointing out his failed run against Representative Roscoe Bartlett in the 2002 Republican primary election”.

He told me his experience is better suited for the court room than legislative politics.  The term for a Judge is 15 years, which Rolle told me would make him 67 years old, which he believed would be the last step in his career.

As I concluded the interview, Scott Rolle reminded me the election of a Circuit Court Judge was a nonpartisan election and that both he and Judge Danny O’Connor will appear on the ballot without political affiliation noted on both the Republican and Democratic primary election ballot on June 24.

If, one candidate wins both primary elections there would be no general election.  Otherwise, the winner will be decided in the general election held on November 4.

Stuart Harvey, election director for Frederick County Board of Elections, in an email, clarified what will happen if one candidate should win both primaries "Even if one candidate for Circuit Court wins both primaries, their name will still appear on the General Election ballot, with a write-in box below it.  This is what happened in 2004 with Judge Adams and Commissioner Thompson.  Since she won both primaries that year, only her name appeared on the Nov. 2004 ballot."

Stay tuned.

When will the pendulum swing stop in Frederick County?

George Wenschhof

Frederick County, Maryland voters decided on a change to charter government by referendum in the 2012 election, but the issues remain the same.

Yes, power structure will change with the election of a strong county executive and council in the 2014 election versus the current five member board of county commissioners.  But, the pivotal issues will remain the same and one of two distinctly different philosophies on how to manage growth will prevail come November.

The twenty year plus pendulum swing between county commissioners labeled as favoring a more balanced and sustainable approach to growth versus those labeled who favor development is once again poised to take place in the 2014 election.

Connected by their views on growth and not political party affiliation, they view each other in a detestable manner with a mutual lack of respect. They mirror the current repugnant manner displayed in the U.S. Congress between far right conservative Republicans and more progressive Democrats.

Unfortunately, the current Congress illustrates that the combative nature of these types of relationships often results in dysfunctional government.

Locally, as suspected, Democratic former president of the board and three term county commissioner Jan Gardner is running for county executive and her opponent is likely to be Republican board of county commissioners President Blaine Young.  Both Young and Gardner serve as lightening rods for opposing views on growth management.

If Young begs off a run for county executive, Republican county commissioner Billy Shreve is likely to run for the newly created position. 

A name, not previously mentioned, who may run is former Frederick County state’s attorney Scott Rolle (R).  A mostly mum Rolle told me recently he is seriously considering a run for office.  In addition to county executive, possibilities include state delegate in district 3-A or Judge of the circuit court.  The latter, appearing to more closely reflect his past experience. Interestingly, he almost won election to state delegate in 2010 after his withdrawal came too late to remove his name from the ballot. He said he will make his intentions known next week. 

Republican county commissioner David Gray is also running.  But, as an ally of Jan Gardner and one who already gave up the gavel to her in the 2006 election, do not look to see him face Gardner in the general election.  His candidacy is only meant to be a distraction for Young, should he run for county executive.

The filing deadline for candidates in the 2014 election is February 25.

Behind the scenes, much work has been underway by both groups to recruit sympathetic candidates to run for the seven member hybrid county council.  Five of the members are elected by districts and two at large.

In the 2006 election it was the self named “Dream Team” consisting of two Republicans; David Gray and John “Lennie” Thompson and two Democrats; Jan Gardner and Kai Hagen who won election.

They followed their election with pursuing actions, including an update of the county comprehensive plan and down zoning of properties to reflect their vision of how growth should take place in Frederick County.

However, it was actions that took place during their term that spawned the revitalization of “pro-growth” candidates led by Republican Blaine Young.

Blaine Young and company trounced the 2010 version of the “Dream Team” led by Democrat Kai Hagen and have followed their election by rezoning properties that had been down zoned by the previous board and proclaiming “Frederick County Open for Business”.

Young and Company have spent the next three plus years implementing destructive and reckless policies centered on the privatization of government services and reducing the size of government.

This has led to the return of Jan Gardner to the local political scene and the resurrection of the “Dream Team” faction.

Leading to yet another confrontational county election, focused once again on growth policies.

Voters deserve choices and a change from the current Blaine and Company regime is called for and needed.

However, Gardner if elected will need to be mindful of the actions taken by the previous board she presided over that led to the election of Young and Company and the irresponsible actions taken by a brash Blaine Young who has often stated “I am doing what I told the voters I would do when I ran for election”. 

Should she repeat these same actions, it will merely perpetuate the pendulum swing.

What is needed in Frederick County and the country is a more pragmatic approach to governing that focuses on bringing people together to obtain desired results that will endure sure to come changes in elected officials.

Volatile rhetoric and campaign tactics used to divide the community and unite enough voters just to win election is not what is needed and is a strategy that voters are tiring of.

Reflecting this sentiment, the fastest growing group of voters across the country is those who are unaffiliated with a political party, clearly signaling dissatisfaction with politics as usual.

Having seen many different representative democracy systems in place at the local level across the country, I am convinced it is not the system that guarantees effective government. 

The change to charter government alone will not be the savior or answer to more effective government for Frederick County residents.

Instead, it is the people who are elected and increased involvement by the people they represent, that will make the difference between good and bad government.

The focus by the county executive should be on bringing people together and implementing effective government services to reach a shared vision for the community.

Also needed is meaningful campaign finance reform to ensure fairness and that one vote is not worth more than another vote.

Frederick County voters deserve reasonable, fair and effective government. When choosing who to support for county executive and county council, voters should look past rhetoric and focus on those candidates dedicated to working together with other elected officials and with the residents they represent to implement a shared vision. 

Together, Frederick County can become the community that everyone desires.

Stay tuned.

Rolle Wins After Dropping Out

George Wenschhof

In an interesting turn of events, former State's Attorney Scott Rolle emerged as one of the two winners in the Maryland district 3-a state delegate Republican primary.

Upon learning who had filed in the district 3-a delegate race, I had predicted a win for Patrick Hogan and Scott Rolle in the Republican primary. That was before Mr. Rolle announced he would be dropping out of the race to pursue an opportunity with the Discovery channel.

His decision to drop out came after the official state deadline to withdraw, so his name appeared on the ballot which I mused in a recent column, would be interesting to see how many votes he received.

Interestingly, Rolle's decision not to run came after two articles appeared in the Frederick Gazette Newspaper questioning his residency in the district and pointing out some business financial difficulties he had recently experienced.

Reporter Katherine Heerbrandt wrote about financial problems associated with a business start up here on July 15. This came after questions pertaining to his residency came to light.

One week after the Gazette article appeared, it was reported in the Frederick News Post, Rolle has dropped out of the race. You may read that article here.

Now, after absentee and provisional ballots have been counted, Rolle has finished second in the Republican primary, nine votes ahead of Chris Huckenpoehler.

Look to see a change of mind by Rolle as Maryland Republican leaders will see the opportunity to win both seats in district 3-a.

The other Republican to win in the district 3-a primary is former delegate Patrick Hogan. Hogan lost in a close contest to delegate Galen Clagett (D) by about 200 votes in the 2006 election after serving one term.

The 2006 election saw the return of Sue Hecht (D) as a delegate. This coming after waging an unsuccessful battle against Republican state senator Alex Mooney in district 3 four years previously. Hecht has announced her retirement, making her open seat an strong possibility for a Republican pick up. The other Democratic candidate in district 3-a is Candy Greenway.

Stay Tuned...

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