Only two area lawmakers face opposition in races

May 23, 2006|by TAMELA BAKER

ANNAPOLIS

With six weeks left until the filing deadline, only two local legislators have drawn opponents.

Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Washington/Frederick, is being challenged in the September primary by fellow Republican Hugh M. Warner of Frederick. Warner ran unsuccessfully for Frederick County Commissioner in 2002.

No Democratic challengers had filed against Mooney as of Friday, according to records of the state Board of Elections.

The other contest involves legislative District 2C, which includes roughly the city of Hagerstown. Incumbent John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, has no challengers in the primary, but will face the winner of a Republican primary race between former Del. Paul D. Muldowney and former Hagerstown City Council candidate Scott Hesse.

Hesse was the sixth highest vote-getter in last year's council race, losing a spot to Alesia D. Parson-McBean by 31 votes.

Muldowney served in the House of Delegates from 1979 to 1987, when he was replaced by former Del. D. Bruce Poole after losing both a hard-fought primary and a write-in campaign in the general election. Muldowney, a Democrat while in office, ran for Congress against Roscoe Bartlett in 1994. He later switched parties and ran against Donoghue in 1998, losing by 295 votes.

Incumbents Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, and Del. Richard B. Weldon, R-Washington/Frederick, had not officially filed by Friday. Shank and Weldon said Monday they plan to file soon. Munson also plans to run for re-election, he said.

Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, and Del. Robert A. McKee, R-Washington, already have filed.

Sen. John J. Hafer, R-Washington/Allegany/Garrett, announced last year he would retire this year. Del. George C. Edwards, R-Garrett/Allegany and the outgoing House Minority Leader, is thus far the only announced candidate for Senate from District 1, which includes the westernmost portion of Washington County.

Weldon noted that it's getting a bit late for challengers to jump into the race. At some point, he said, anyone who's going to run has to get their name out there and raise some campaign money.

The deadline to file for the September primary is 9 p.m. July 3. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is 9 p.m. Aug. 22.

The Maryland primary is Sept. 12; the general election is Nov. 7.

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