State Roundup, September 16, 2010

DELAYED RESULTS: The delays in getting election results were due to human error more than technical flaws, reports Liz Kay and Yeganeh Torbati for the Baltimore Sun. Prince George’s residents had to wait until almost 5 a.m. Wednesday to get the final tallies, but county elections chief Alisha Alexander said it was a matter of good intentions gone awry, writes Miranda Spivack in the Post.

WHAT DID DELAWARE? When it comes to the Tea Party, Peter Jensen of the Sun writes, Maryland is not Delaware. But the Washington Post’s Aaron Davis says that the state’s loss of moderates could mean a more polarized Senate.

GOV’S RACE: Dave Collins of WBAL-TV reports that political experts say that Democrat incumbent Gov. Martin O’Malley and Republican rival Bob Ehrlich will need to draw thick lines to demarcate themselves from each other.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS: Voting is finished and the results are in, or mostly in, and the roadside campaign signs now resemble litter. When should the signs be removed? asks the Sun’s Peter Hermann.

GOP UNITED: The state GOP wasted little time pulling together their winning and losing primary candidates in an effort to present a united front as they try to make gains in this heavily Democratic state, John Wagner writes for the Post.

COUNTY RACES: Michele Dinkel of Conduit Street, the Maryland Association of Counties blog, gives a run down of the turnover in county offices from the primary.

8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Which Republican will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen of the 8th District in November? Ben Pershing of the Post says we still don’t know.

MOCO COUNCIL: Council member Duchy Trachtenberg conceded defeat to Hans Riemer, saying she paid a price for standing up against “special interests,” the Post’s Michael Laris writes. And unions are taking credit for her defeat.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

COUNTY EXEC: Rushern Baker is almost assured of becoming the next Prince George’s county executive. And his election could mean a change in leadership style, Miranda Spivack writes for the Post.

PG STATE’S ATTY: State’s attorney winner Angela Alsobrooks hopes to replicate an innovative California program to cut crime, reports Fred Kunkle in the Post.

FREDERICK DELEGATES: Meg Tully of the Frederick News Post writes that Scott Rolle, who stopped his campaign to appear on a cable TV show, may yet win the Republican primary for state delegate in District 3A. He’s 11 votes ahead of Chris Huckenpoehler with all 65 precincts and early voting results reporting. The final vote totals in a tight District 4A Delegates race show incumbent Paul Stull is in danger of being unseated by a pair of newcomers, Brian Englar reports for the News Post.

BALTIMORE COUNTY

KAMENETZ WINS: Hours after winning a bruising primary for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County executive, Councilman Kevin Kamenetz made a pitch for party unity, but did not immediately get the support of his fellow council member and primary opponent, Joe Bartenfelder, Arthur Hirsch reports in the Sun. Kamenetz’s opponent in the general election, Ken Holt, comes out swinging. Bryan Sears of Patuxent Publishing reports that Bartenfelder left a message for Kamenetz in which he conceded.

COUNTY COUNCIL: The Sun’s Raven Hill writes that primary elections for Baltimore County Council have set the stage for spirited campaigns this fall, with five contested races for open seats on the seven-member panel.

COURT CLERK: Longtime Baltimore County Clerk of the court Suzanne Mensh retired earlier this year, then she decided to run again for her job. Now, voters have made sure that her retirement sticks. Mary Gail Hare has the story in the Sun.

BALTIMORE CITY STATE’S ATTY: According to Sun reporter Tricia Bishop, Baltimore State’s Attorney Pat Jessamy is concerned that thousands of votes may be missing from results that show her opponent with a slim lead, and she is not conceding the tight race before a more thorough review of voting procedures. And the Sun’s Andy Green writes that no matter who wins, it is obvious that when it comes to prosecuting criminals in the city, there is a widespread and intense dissatisfaction with the status quo. Jayne Miller of WBAL-TV reports that Bernstein thanks his supporters for keeping him ahead in the race. And Andrea Fujii of WJZ-TV reports that Jessamy is looking forward to the absentee ballots being counted. Just in case you forgot what the three candidates in this race look like — yes, there were three — here are some pictures.

ANNE ARUNDEL

ANNAPOLIS ANALYSIS: Paul Foer of the Annapolis Capital Punishment blog analyzes three races in his area based on the primary results.

SEN. REILLY: Republican Sen. Ed Reilly appears headed to victory in his re-election bid in the District 33 state Senate race, in one of the most hotly contested battles of the election season, reports Liam Farrell of the Annapolis Capital.

SLOTS CONFUSION: Allison Bourg of the Capital reports that some voters turned out to give their opinions on the slots referendum, only to discover that it won’t be on the ballot until November.

CARROLL COUNTY: In a sweeping change that impacts every corner of Carroll County, voters brushed out two incumbents on the commissioner board and cast open all five district seats to someone new, reports Jim Joyner, Kevin Dayhoff, Steve Jones and Bob Allen for the Carroll Eagle.

WICOMICO COUNTY: It’s still too soon for Seth Mitchell to declare victory in the Wicomico County state’s attorney primary, but today’s count of absentee ballots might decide the Democratic winner, Gregg Latshaw writes for the Salisbury Daily Times.

ALLEGANY COUNTY: Allegany County voters have thrown out all three county commissioners, the Associated Press reports.

CHESAPEAKE BAY: Tim Wheeler of the Sun writes that a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey shows some that Chesapeake Bay rivers have gotten cleaner over the past three decades, while others are getting worse. And Annapolis Capital opinionators question the length of government cleanup plans for the Bay.

MUNSON: Defeated Sen. Don Munson in Washington County conceded to Del. Chris Shank, but said he won’t support his election, Andy Schotz reports in the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.

APPOINTED DELEGATES: One appointed delegate lost the primary and another won, as Andy Schotz writes about their contrasting fortunes in the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.

WINE SURVEY: Comptroller Peter Franchot is asking consumers for their opinion on direct shipment of wine, Hayley Peterson reports in the Washington Examiner.

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