Congressional candidate hasn't been seen, heard

September 03, 2010|By ANDREW SCHOTZ

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J. Casey Clark still is on the Democratic ballot for this year's election for Maryland's 6th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but does not appear to be actively seeking the seat, a local Democratic Party official said Wednesday.

Robert Kresslein, chairman of the Frederick County Democratic Central Committee, said he heard a few months ago from someone close to Clark that Clark's campaign was going "inactive."

In recent campaign messages, Andrew Duck, the only other Democrat who filed to run in the 6th District race, has focused on the incumbent, Republican Roscoe Bartlett.

Clark couldn't be reached for comment. His campaign phone number no is longer in service. He has not answered three e-mails sent to his campaign account in the last several days.

At last week's Washington County Democratic picnic, Duck said doesn't think Clark has been at a public event since April, but he didn't know anything else about his campaign.

Patricia Heck, the Washington County Democratic Central Committee chairwoman, said she also hadn't heard anything about Clark, who didn't attend the picnic.

Martin A. Radinsky, chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Central Committee, said in a voice-mail message that he hasn't been able to reach Clark, either.

Clark lives in Hampstead in Carroll County.

Clark hasn't sent any campaign e-mails to The Herald-Mail in months.

Federal election records show he submitted a campaign finance report on Aug. 28.

His report lists $103,432 in total contributions and a $50,000 loan from himself. But his campaign has slowed considerably in the last several weeks, taking in just $70 from July 1 to Aug. 25.

His campaign reported having a cash balance of $18,971.

Clark filed a statement of candidacy in April 2009, then filed to run for the 6th District seat on Sept. 1, 2009, according to federal and state election websites.

Duck, who ran unsuccessfully in 2006 and 2008, filed to run on Feb. 4.

Bartlett is running for a 10th two-year term. His challengers in the Sept. 14 Republican primary are Joseph T. Krysztoforski, Dennis B. Janda, Steve Taylor and Seth Edward Wilson.

The general election will be Nov. 2.

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