Annapolis

Speak softly and carry a big notebook In a career spanning more than four decades, Tom Stuckey - Annapolis correspondent for the Associated Press - has become such a fixture in the statehouse that House Speaker Michael E. Busch recently remarked that "I just thought he lived here. " Stuckey has been covering Maryland politics so long that not only can he remember when Thomas V. "Mike" Miller was not the president of the Senate, but he also can remember the last time a Republican occupied the governor's mansion.

The election is over and the voters in their respective parties have spoken. First, we congratulate Del. Christopher B. Shank on his resounding defeat of five-term state Sen. Donald F. Munson in the Republican primary. This was the most important race in Washington County this year, and the candidates made their positions clear. Democrats, seeing the clout of these two heavyweights, didn't field a candidate in the primary, so for all practical purposes, the GOP nomination was winner take all. Clearly, both men worked extremely hard and made the effort to reach the voters.

Members of the Washington County Community Coalition met with legislators in the state capital Wednesday as part of an effort to give the county more visibility among lawmakers. The lobbying coalition, which includes the county government and the City of Hagerstown, also hosted a reception Wednesday evening that showcased businesses and organizations from the county. But before the reception, which featured cheese from Palmyra Farm, a Hagerstown business, and wine from Red Heifer Winery, located in Smithsburg, scores of coalition members trooped down the alleys of the Maryland State House, the Senate and House buildings as they met with legislators.

Security stepped up in Annapolis By LAURA ERNDE laurae@herald-mail.com Visitors to Maryland's State House, whether they be Girl Scouts or lobbyists, have been able to freely roam the halls of the legislature. continued "Citizens had the run of the place. Everybody would come and go as they pleased," said Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington. But that was before Sept. 11. Now, all guests to the Maryland General Assembly are greeted by locked doors and metal detectors.

karenh@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - The business of the Maryland General Assembly is more than just speeches, stress and suits, three Washington County students discovered recently when they served as pages in Annapolis. "I liked it. It wasn't what I expected. It was surprising, but not a bad kind of surprising," said Jordan Appel, who compared the environment at the State House to a "classroom full of kids. " Appel, a Hancock Middle/Senior High School senior, was among a group of Washington County youths who had the opportunity to work as pages for two one-week stints.

WILLIAMSPORT While their creation does not sit for finals or write term papers, one high school team is counting on a robot to bring success this spring. The robotics team of Williamsport High School will travel to Annapolis next week to participate in the Chesapeake Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, which challenges students to design and build robots that can complete certain tasks. "One thing I think the team has benefited is we've had students who if it wasn't for the team, they would not have finished school, they would not have graduated," teacher Jim Prelog said.

ANNAPOLIS -- There were about 100 lobbyists waiting to speak with Maryland Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr. outside of his office Wednesday afternoon. After standing, mingling and pacing for about 20 minutes, one of them asked what the delay was. "Washington County is in there," someone responded. It was an important meeting with a General Assembly leader during a day filled with brief discussions with state lawmakers - educating them on Washington County issues and lobbying for money for local projects.