General Assembly: Carroll County

Originally published October 24, 2006

District 4B: Del. Donald B. Elliott is a moderate Republican incumbent whose views reflect the small-town nature of his New Windsor home and the residents of his district's rolling farmlands. He has represented parts of Carroll and Frederick counties since 1987 and should continue to speak on behalf of the region's threatened agribusinesses for another term. The Sun endorses Delegate Elliott, who is running against Democrat Timothy Schlauch, a political neophyte.

District 5A: Democrats in this district that touches western Baltimore County and includes Finksburg, North Carroll and the county seat of Westminster have an opportunity to add a bipartisan element to the region's delegation to Annapolis. The area faces serious growth and education challenges, and no single ideology should have sway. To that end, The Sun endorses Ann Darrin and Frank Henry Rammes, two Democrats challenging GOP incumbents and home rule opponents Dels. Tanya Thornton Shewell and Nancy R. Stocksdale.

District 9B: Carroll County voters ought to have more say in local matters, and that's why it is time for the government to change from commission to home rule. Advocates have an ally in Del. Susan W. Krebs, the Republican incumbent from Eldersburg. Her willingness to relinquish some of the power held by the delegation, as well as her supportive votes on education and the environment, earns Delegate Krebs The Sun's endorsement. Her opponent, Democrat Anita Lombardi Riley, shows much promise and should continue to work in political circles at the local level. As noted above, The Sun endorses Democrat Rich Corkran for the District 9 Senate seat.

 

Carroll County legislative districts

Originally published September 4, 2006

Many Carroll County voters will go to the polls with memories of the last legislative session fresh on their minds. Local officials who wanted to move the county from a commission to a home-rule form of government, complete with five new election districts, were stymied in their attempts by their representatives in the State House, who preferred the status quo government or did not like the way the maps were drawn. Key seats may be decided on how residents want to handle growth pressures and whether to expand local government powers.

District 4: Incumbent Sen. David R. Brinkley, whose district includes parts of Carroll and Frederick counties, has established himself as a moderate Republican who works well with and is respected by members on both sides of the political aisle in the legislature. His primary race this year is against a newcomer whose strident views against immigrants and same-sex marriage are already well represented in Annapolis. The Sun endorses Mr. Brinkley.

There is no Democratic primary.

District 4B: Carroll's westernmost House district includes rolling farmland and small towns from Taneytown to Mount Airy. While his ideas about campaign finance reform could be reshaped, Republican Del. Donald B. Elliott's positions on transportation needs and the importance of agriculture reflect his constituents' views. He earns The Sun's endorsement.

There is no Democratic primary.

District 5: Carroll's District 5 borders western Baltimore County and includes Westminster, the county seat. Strained relationships between local officials and the county's delegation over home rule need to be smoothed out. With that in mind, newcomer Michelle Jefferson, a former chairwoman of the local Republican Central Committee and candidate for the state senate, offers an opportunity for bridge building. Ms. Jefferson will face a tough race against incumbent Sen. Larry E. Haines, who leads the county delegation, but she is The Sun's choice in the Republican primary.

There is no Democratic primary.

District 5A: No single ideology will prepare Carroll County for the challenges of growth and education in its immediate future. Independent-thinking Republican C. Scott Stone, a computer systems engineer with extensive private business experience, is green on environmental issues, skeptical about the death penalty and adamant about not raising taxes. He gets The Sun's endorsement for the House of Delegates. Of the two incumbents, The Sun endorses Del. Tanya Thornton Shewell, who joined the legislature two years ago and has consistently supported environmental issues that are important for the state and, as her country grows, that will be crucial for Carroll.

There is no Democratic primary.

District 9B: South Carroll's Republican Del. Susan Krebs, formerly Carroll County Board of Education president, was elected to the House of Delegates in 2002 to represent the new District 9B and has quickly earned a reputation as a fighter for the voters back home, even when it meant disagreeing with some in her delegation. Her sense of fairness and her votes on environmental issues earn her The Sun's endorsement.

There is no Democratic primary.