Election Wrap-Up
Primary Election Wrap Up – September 2006
The Board of Trade congratulates winners in the primaries in DC and Maryland and pledges to work cooperatively with all elected leaders to solve critical regional issues, including winning approval of the $1.5 billion federal funding legislation for Metro and helping to alleviate challenges resulting from economic growth and Federal developments such as BRAC.
District of Columbia
Mayor
With Adrian Fenty’s overwhelming win (with at least 52% of the vote in each ward), he is virtually assured to serve as the next Mayor of our nation’s capital. The Board of Trade has pledged its full support to Fenty and his team. Over the next few weeks, the Board of Trade will develop a plan for our leadership, staff and members to work with the Fenty Administration.
DC Council Chairman/ Ward Races
The DC Council in 2007 will have a new Chairman (Vincent Gray) and five new faces. Special elections in early 2007 will fill the Council seats vacated by Fenty and Gray.
Gray won the Chairman race with a substantial margin over his opponent, Councilmember Kathy Patterson. Mr. Gray’s knowledge of business and community issues and his prior experience on the Council should serve the city and the business community well.
Incumbent Phil Mendelson won the At-Large seat over DC lawyer Scott Bolden. Mendelson pulled the greatest number of votes in the entire primary.
In Ward 1, Jim Graham demonstrated his immense popularity with his easy re-election; he polled 87% in a two-person race.
In Ward 3, Mary Cheh, a George Washington University law professor, won big in a crowded field and will bring a fresh face to the Council. Current Ward 3 Councilmember Kathy Patterson vacated the Ward 3 seat in her bid for Council Chairman.
In Ward 5, Harry Thomas, Jr., head of his own firm that provides management consulting and development assistance to sports-related programs, won the nomination for the seat held for 12 years by his father. Vincent Orange vacated this seat in his bid for Mayor.
And Tommy Wells, a professional social worker and member of the DC Board of Education, won the Ward 6 seat. This seat was open due to Sharon Ambrose’s retirement from the Council.
Maryland
While many local races are virtually determined by the primary elections, several major races will be fought in the Nov. 7 General Election. BaltimoreMayor Martin O’Malley will seek to unseat Gov. Bob Ehrlich. And Rep. Ben Cardin will face Lt. Gov. Michael Steele for U.S. Senate.
Montgomery County Executive/ County Council
Raising concerns about the county’s rate of growth, Ike Leggett defeated Steve Silverman in the Democratic primary for County Executive. Aside from growth, Mr. Leggett campaigned on many of the same issues as Mr. Silverman and supports Board of Trade priorities including dedicated Metro funding, the ICC, the Purple Line, and affordable housing.
Following the November general election, the County Council will include at least three new members – due to retirements or primary defeat. Two at-large candidates, Duchy Trachtenberg and Marc Elric, who support slower growth and oppose the ICC, won in the primary. However, they also support the Purple Line, another transportation priority of the Board of Trade. All County Council candidates face general election challenges, though Democrats hold significant advantages in voter registration.
Prince George’s County Executive/ County Council
County Executive Jack Johnson narrowly edged challenger Rushern Baker, who conceded the race. During the campaign, Mr. Johnson vowed to continue the economic progress that Prince George’s County has seen in recent years and pledged to become more engaged in regional issues such as dedicated Metro funding.
Seven incumbents on the Council won their primary bids for re-election, but two vacancies will bring two new members. Democrats hold very strong voter registration advantage in Prince George’s; only two Republican candidates are running in the nine races, leaving the rest unchallenged.
Maryland General Assembly
Political newcomers, Jamie Raskin, a law professor at American University, and Mike Lennett, a consumer protection attorney, defeated two long-time legislators in Montgomery County. Senator Ida Ruben lost her re-election bid to Raskin, who ran as a progressive candidate (e.g., in favor of universal health care) in District 20 ( Takoma Park/ Silver Spring region). Delegate Carol Petzold, a long-time ICC supporter, lost a three-way race for a vacant state senate seat in District 19 (Aspen Hill), to newcomer Lennett, who vowed to be pro-business and supportive of the ICC. In addition, in District 21 (College Park area), Senator John Giannetti lost his re-election bid to Jim Rosapepe – a former Univ. of MD Regent and Ambassador to Romania.
Two open state senate seats in Prince George’s County went to candidates supportive of business issues. Prince George’s County Councilman and businessman Doug J.J.Peters won the primary for Senate District 23 (Bowie/ New Carrollton). He is unopposed in the general election. In Senate District 26 ( Oxon Hill), minister and former state delegate Anthony Muse won his primary election. Also unopposed in the general election, he pledged to work with the business community.
Attorney General
Montgomery County State ’s Attorney Doug Gansler defeated Stu Simms, a former Glendenning Administration cabinet Secretary, in the primary. Gansler campaigned as a pro-business candidate, vowing to create a business advisory committee to the Attorney General’s office. He will face Frederick County State’s Attorney Scott Rolle (R) in the general election.
Comptroller
Peter Franchot, a 20-year veteran of the House of Delegates from Montgomery County, won a stunning upset victory in the Democratic primary for Comptroller, defeating former Gov. William Donald Schaefer and Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens. Franchot will face Anne McCarthy, former dean of the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, in the general election.
