It is now a family affair in the postscript of the recent election. Keving Gilchrest, a school teacher in Chestertown and son of U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Dist. 1) has a few choice words for not only former Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) but for the Maryland GOP in general.
In a letter published by The Baltimore Sun, Gilchrest blames Ehrlich for helping Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D) take the 1st Congressional seat from Republican hands. In the first paragraph of his letter, the younger Gilchrest wrote, “The idea of a Kratovil victory was treated as a joke by his opponent, Sen. Andy Harris, during the campaign. Kratovil’s victory, though, which included a sweep of all nine Eastern Shore counties, is glaring evidence of the utter and complete dysfunction of the Republican Party in the state of Maryland.”
Kevin Gilchrest adds that Ehrlich’s motivation of defeating his dad and trying to put a strong ally in the first should he decide to run for governor again, were ego-centric and delivered the First District on a silver platter.
The new congressman for the first congressional district in the state of Maryland will be Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D).
WJZ 13 reporting that Baltimore/Harford Senator Andy Harris (R-Dist. 7) called Kratovil this morning to concede the election. It took almost a week to declare a winner in the hard fought but election, although it was kind of a bitter race with the current U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrist (R) crossing party lines to endorse Kratovil. Gilchrist lost to Harris in the Republican primary in February.
Kratovil’s lead widened as the absentee and provisional ballots were counted. As of last night the Democrat only had a slight lead over Harris by more that 2,000 votes.
The Associated Press declared Queen Anne’s County States Attorney Frank Kratovil (D) the winning of the race to replace Wayne Gilchrist (R) in the 1st Congressional District, defeating Baltimore/Harford Senator Andy Harris (R) with more than 2100 votes. Despite the victory called for him, Kratovil has yet to declare victory. The Baltimore Sun is reporting that may change today. There is reportedly a press conference scheduled by Camp Kratovil this afternoon.
Forgive me if I am a bit behind, but a historic election happened to occur during one of my busiest weeks of a year. In any event, now we are going to look how the ballot questions that needed to be answered in eight local governments fared. Remember. we are looking at issues here and not bond questions.
Anne Arundel County (100% reporting)
Question A would have been favorable to the county council in that if the county executive did not sign a bill into law after ten days, the bill would automatically go into effect. This question failed by a tight margin 52 percent to 48 percent.
Question B would allow the county council to nominate for appointment by the county executive three of the seven members of the ethics commission. This question passed 67 percent to 33 percent.
Baltimore City (as of Nov. 6)
Question A would create the Department of General Services which would take some work off of the hands of the Department of Public Works.  It would also require “obstructions in the public street to the work of the Department of Transportation or the Department of General Services must be removed upon notice from those Departments.â€Â This question passed 139,526 votes to 30,162.
Baltimore County (99% reporting)
Question A would do away with the rule barring county council members from working for the state at the same time. Baltimore County residents did not want this rule to be done away, it has failed 54 percent to 46 percent.
Garrett County (100% reporting)
Question A would permit certain alcoholic beverages to be sold Sunday Afternoons and evenings between 1:00-10:00pm in the districts which approved the measure. You will be able to buy some sauce on Sunday Afternoons in Swanton, Sang Run, East Oakland, Finzel and Mountain Lake Park.
Montgomery County (100% reporting)
Question A would repeal three sections of the county charter regarding the use of county funds to operate a landfill or burying or trenching sewage sludge in residential zones, in addition to telephone service offered by the C&P Telephone Company. 64 percent were for the repeal, 36 percent were against it.
Question B would require a unanimous vote of the county council, rather than a super majority (7-2) to levy a property tax that would exceed the annual limit. This question BARELY passed 50.09 percent to 49.91percent.
Prince George’s County (100% reporting)
The infamous Question F would have raised the telephone taxes in the county from eight percent to 11 percent. This question failed 71 percent to 29 percent.
Question G would clarify the scheduling and notice period of county legislation by the county council clerk from five to ten days. This question passed 88 percent to 12 percent.
Talbot County (100% reporting)
Question A would eliminate the county council from the picture in regards to filling a vacancy on their roster after 30 days and shift would then shift appointment powers to the Governor. If the governor fails to act within 30 days from when his clock starts, the vacancy would be filled through a special election. If the vacancy occurs more than 60 days before the presidential primary election, any appointment made to fill the vacancy would on be good through the general presidential election after which a special election would be held. This question passed 59 percent to 41 percent.
Question B would have established a commission to recommend a pay raise amount for the next county council. The question failed 55 percent to 45 percent.
Wicomico County (100% reporting)
Question A would have allowed the county to refund outstanding bonds, certificates of indebtedness, notes and other obligations in accordance with state law. The question was overwhelmingly approved 82 percent to 18 percent.
Question B asked to increase the term for general obligation bonds, certificates of indebtedness, notes and other obligations which may be issued from 25 to 30 years and to clarify certain terms for bond anticipation notes. This question was approved convincingly 71 percent to 29 percent.
The day after the general election and we have no clear decision on who is going to be the next congressman from the first district. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, it is 49 percent for Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D) and 49 percent for Baltimore/Harford Senator Andy Harris (R-Dist. 7).
WJZ 13 reporting that it will come down to the absentee ballots, which cannot be counted earlier than Thursday because of Maryland law. Both Harris and Kratovil are optimistic about the outcome.
John Sarbanes (D), son of recently retired U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes will get a second term in congress. He defeated Thomas Harris (R) 71-29 percent.
This election year proving to be very good to Elijah Cummings (D) who not only was the state co-chair of the Obama campaign, but he is also going back to congress defeating Michael Hargadon (R) and Ronald Owens-Bey (L) 78-20-2 percent.
With 93 percent of the precincts voting, it looks like Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D) is leading Baltimore/Harford Senator Andy Harris (R) 50-48 percent. Richard Davis, the libertatian, received two percent of the vote. Harris led early on in the beginning, but this contest became tight and quick. I will say it’s too close to call for right now.
79 percent of the precincts reporting and it doesn’t take much to call the second. Incumbent Dutch Ruppersberger (D) will return to Washington for another term in congress, capturing 73 percent of the vote. Richard Matthews (R) mustered up 24 percent. Libertarian Lorenzo Gaztanaga gets three percent.
Donna Edwards who in a short period, defeated long time congressman Al Wynn during the democrat primary, then replaced him a few months ago when he resigned, will go on for a full two year term in congress, defeating Peter James (R) and Thibeaux Lincecum (L) 83-16-1 percent respectively with 65 percent reporting.
Marylanders have decided that they want to vote early and our of their precincts should they choose to do so.  Question 1 passed 71 percent to 29 percent.
The slots referendum, also known as question two passed, but the tally was tighter than expected, 59 percent voted yes, 41 percent said no.
U.S. House MAjority Leader Steny Hoyer (D) is leading big time with the majority, 71 percent with 73 percent of the precincts reporting. Collins Bailey (R) caputred 27 percent and Darline Nicholas has two percent.
