State Roundup, August 16, 2010

GOV WAR CHESTS: In the last few months, former governor Bob Ehrlich raised as much money as Gov. Martin O’Malley — but O’Malley still has a deeper financial war chest, reports the Post’s John Wagner. The Sun’s Julie Bykowicz also reports on the race’s funds. And the Post’s First Click, Maryland answers the Ehrlich-O’Malley money question posited a few weeks ago.

RECORD SPENDING?: TV advertising is increasing as part of the 2010 campaign, making analysts wonder if this year’s election will top 2006’s campaign spending record, reports The Sun’s David Zurawik.

MURPHY AND MATE: The Daily Times’ Bryan Shane talks to GOP gov hopeful Brian Murphy. His running mate, lieutenant governor candidate Michael Ryman, campaigned at the Leitersburg Peach Fest, reports The Herald-Mail’s Dave McMillion and Julie Greene.

CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK: The Herald-Mail’s collection of campaign vignettes includes U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s appearance at repairs to the C&O Canal, slashed tires for a campaign worker, gubernatorial candidate Brian Murphy’s plans to talk immigration, and the upcoming deadline to register to vote in the Sept. 14 primary.

ELMORE’S SEAT: A Princess Anne farmer, a Salisbury-area political activist, a Crisfield attorney and a Wicomico County councilman are set to square off to get the GOP nod for the House of Delegates seat held by the late Page Elmore, Greg Latshaw writes for the Salisbury Times.

LEGGETT’S MONEY: Montgomery County Exec Ike Leggett has no serious opposition to re-election, but he is still raising lots of cash and he’s giving it away, Adam Pagnucco writes for Maryland Politics Watch.

JESSAMY CRITICIZED: Baltimore city state’s attorney Pat Jessamy is facing controversy following a statement in which she compared working in her office and with the Circuit Court to “public school in a low-rent district.” The comparison was meant as a slap to opponent Greg Bernstein’s less rough and tumble experiences, Dave Collins reports for WBAL-TV.

MACO WEEK: The Maryland Association of Counties’ summer conference takes place from Wednesday through Saturday of this week in Ocean City, the Associated Press reports.

BALTO COUNTY COUNCIL: An open seat in District 2 draws a wide field of candidates, reports Arthur Hirsch of the Baltimore Sun.

SOMERSET FORUM: A packed house is expected at Tuesday’s forum, where voters can size up candidates for November primary races that include six Somerset County contests — including sheriff and county treasurer — with unprecedented competition, Deborah Gates reports for the Salisbury Daily Times.

HOWARD FORUM: One-half of the main attraction in next month’s District 4 County Council primary election didn’t show up at the LWV televised forum for Howard County executive and County Council candidates Tuesday night at school board headquarters, Larry Carson reports for the Sun.

CARROLL LWV FORUMS: Hampstead, Sykesville and Manchester are the sites for the next for League of Women Voters political forums this week, the Carroll Eagle reports.

CUMBERLAND COUNCIL: Cory Galliher of the Cumberland Times-News probes the issues with candidates for Cumberland City Council.

TANEYTOWN COUNCIL: The Carroll County Times’ Alisha George talks to new council member Richard Hess about his previous experiences as a council member.

GOVERNMENT POWER: Columnist Rob Spring of Westminster writes for the Carroll County Times that citizens should be concerned about government overreach in attempts to combat terrorism.

ANNAPOLIS OVERTIME: In FY 2010, Annapolis government exceeded its overtime budget by 25 percent, reports The Capital’s Joshua Stewart.  Most of the spending took place in the first half of the fiscal year, and the city spent much less closer to the end. According to The Sun’s Nicole Fuller, spending is down by half in the first month of FY 2011.

PG COUNTY: The Post’s Miranda Spivack takes a look at the problems and promise in candidates for PG County exec, council, sheriff and prosecutor races.  Sheriff and candidate for county exec Michael Jackson testified that he did not review evidence of possible embezzlement because it “was union business,” reports The Post’s Ruben Castaneda.

DOUBLE STANDARDS: The Frederick News-Post’s editorial talks about the tightrope members of Congress must walk to both eschew wasteful government spending and bring dollars to support local projects.

ILLEGAL PARENTS: About 7% of school age children in Maryland and other states have at least one parent who is an illegal immigrant, but four out of five of these children were born in the United States and are U.S. citizens, according to a new study by the Pew Hispanic Center, Len Lazarick reports for MarylandReporter.com.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Center Maryland continues its review of court records for candidates seeking local offices around Maryland, today featuring half the candidates for Baltimore County Council.

ENDORSEMENTS: Patuxent Publishing’s Bryan Sears rounds up some of the latest endorsements in Baltimore County.

ASSESS & TAX DEPT: An audit found that the state’s Department of Assessments and Taxation does not do a good enough job making sure that companies are legally doing business in Maryland, writes The Daily Record’s Nick Sohr.

SLOTS DEVELOPER TROUBLE: Canadian developer Michael Moldenhauer, who is hoping to win back his revoked license from the Maryland Board of Contract Appeals to open a slots parlor in Baltimore, has similar legal troubles in New Mexico, according to The Sun’s Scott Calvert and Julie Scharper.

MALL SLOTS: Opponents of the proposed slots parlor at Arundel Mills Mall are accusing security guards of removing their signs from the public property around the mall, reports Robert Lang of WBAL.  TV ads opposing the slots parlor started airing this weekend, reports The Post’s John Wagner. The ad is also posted at the bottom of his report. The Sun’s Nicole Fuller also reports on the ad.

CARROLL POLICE: The next Carroll County Board of Commissioners will decide if the county will continue to use Maryland State Police’s resident trooper program for public safety.

SAVE THE BAY: The state permitting process to help save the Chesapeake Bay is causing headaches for the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture as well as hundreds of chicken farmers, Kate Yanchulis reports for the Sun.

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