Del. Mike Smigiel has won the vote of the Cecil County Republican Central Committee to put his name in nomination to replace Sen. E.J Pipkin in District 36. The vote was 8-1.
Audrey Scott, 77, the former Republican Party State Chair, won Kent shortly after the vote in Cecil — the vote count in Kent was undisclosed. Scott also won the Queen Anne’s Central Committee vote on Tuesday — making her the surprise frontrunner with Caroline’s Central Committee yet to vote.
The votes in Kent and Cecil come a day after Smigiel, R-Cecil, lost the support of members of the Queen Anne’s Republican Central Committee — who originally pledged the three-term delegate their support.
“A majority of QAC committee members had pledged me their support,” Smigiel said. “But it’s the nature of politics, it’s a contact sport.”
Sources say Caroline could go with Smigiel now that Kent has gone for Scott, said a source close to the Caroline Republican Central Committee. This would create a tie among the counties and give Gov. Martin O’Malley a choice of either candidate.
Caroline has been without representation since 1994 and stands a chance of getting a Caroline native back in the House if a sitting delegate from District 36 is elevated to the Senate.
“A vacant seat must be created in the House if Caroline wants a shot at a seat in Annapolis,” said a source close to the process.
Sources close to Congressman Andy Harris, R-MD1, said he is remaining neutral in the nomination process but other sources say Chris Meekins, Harris’ deputy chief of staff, has been exerting influence in the central committees all week.
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