Tag: Mike Smigiel

Marijuana paraphernalia a sticky issue under new bill

The recent move to remove criminal penalties for 10 grams of marijuana or less has been heralded by its supporters as radical reform that would save state money, and alleviate a significant portion of drug-related arrests, which are racially imbalanced.

But a hole in that legislation — one that remains unaddressed — is that drug paraphernalia remains criminal.

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Del. Hershey asks commissioners to support Senate bid using official stationery, apparent ethics violation

Del. Steve Hershey has lobbied county commissioners in Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Cecil for letters of support to the governor in his bid to fill the seat vacated by Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36. But he has done so using his official legislative letterhead — prohibited under ethics rules established by the legislature.

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Don’t leave choice for Pipkin seat to Democratic governor, Republicans say

The chair of Caroline Republican Central Committee is blaming the central committee in Queen Anne’s County for giving Gov. Martin O’Malley the power to choose the successor of Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36. Del. Mike Smigiel, one of the two nominees, is asking the four county central committees to jointly interview him and Del. Steve Hershey to help break the tie and avoid leaving the choice to O’Malley.

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District 36 drama goes on: Smigiel, Hershey tied, but both question committee process

The score is now 2-2 in the race to fill the seat vacated by Sen. E.J. Pipkin, and the drama goes on. Del. Mike Smigiel, R-Cecil, and Del. Steve Hershey, R-Queen Anne’s, have now each won the votes of two Republican central committees in District 36, and both have complaints about how two different central committees handled their nominating process. Other candidates said people were “disgusted” with the process and expected “another round of bizarre behavior.”

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Scott withdraws from race for Pipkin seat

Former state GOP chair Audrey Scott withdrew her name from the race to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36 of the Upper Eastern Shore.

In an email late Friday afternoon to members of the Republican central committees of the four counties — Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s — Scott suggested that they vote for either Del. Mike Smigiel or Del. Steve Hershey since each legislator got the support of one of the county committees, “putting them each in a position to be our next State Senator,” she wrote.

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UPDATED: Pipkin seat still up in the air, as GOP committee reneges; Harris denies involvement

The internal party struggle over filling the Senate seat vacated by Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36 on the Upper Shore remains in flux as freshman Del. Steve Hershey of Queen Anne’s County secured the official vote of the Kent County Republican Central Committee on Thursday. This reversed a Tuesday vote that went to Audrey Scott, the 77-year-old Queenstown resident and former Republican State Party Chair.

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29,000 people of both parties voted for Pipkin, but just 32 Republicans get to choose replacement; Wargotz applying

In 2010, 46,000 people in four counties on the upper Eastern Shore participated in electing the state senator for District 36, and less than half of them were registered Republicans. Yet 29,000 of these voters chose to reelect Republican Sen. E.J.Pipkin, who resigned Aug. 12. By Sept. 10, 32 people or less, all of them members of the Republican Central committees from the four counties, will get to choose his successor.

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UPDATED: Four-way race to replace Sen. Pipkin: Hershey, Smigiel, Sossi, Wargotz

Three-term Del. Michael Smigiel of Cecil County will now have to compete against a close colleague in District 36 to fill the seat vacated by Senate Republican Leader E.J. Pipkin, who is moving to Texas. Freshman Del. Steve Hershey, R- Queen Anne’s, said he will enter his name for consideration with the Republican central committees of Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties — saying there is currently “no clear cut favorite.” Former Del. Richard Sossi, defeated by Hershey in a close 2010 race, said he will also file.

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Smigiel will seek Pipkin’s seat

Del. Mike Smigiel said he has put his name in for the nomination to replace Sen. E.J. Pipkin, who will resign effective August 12. Republican Central Committees from the four Upper Shore Counties will submit a name or names to the governor. Pipkin announced Monday he would resign to earn a master’s degree in sports management at Southern Methodist University in Texas.

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