The chair of Caroline Republican Central Committee is blaming the central committee in Queen Anne’s for giving Gov. Martin O’Malley the power to choose the successor of Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36.
“It is regretful that the members of the Queen Anne’s County Republican Central Committee voted this evening to create a tie in this process and send the decision to Governor Martin O’Malley,” said Caroline Republican Central Committee Chair Rob Willoughby in a statement late Tuesday. “Now, a decision that should have been made here in the 36th District will be made instead in Annapolis by a Democratic Governor.”
Smigiel responded in agreement late Tuesday that Pipkin’s replacement should be chosen by the central committees and called for a debate with Hershey before Sept. 10, the deadline to give the names of the two nominees to O’Malley.
“I suggest that, for the good of the Party, we agree to bring the two nominees before the members of the four central committees to profess our qualifications and debate any issues the members of said honorable central committees should desire,” Smigiel said.
“There is nothing to be served by allowing the Governor of the State to choose the next Republican senator from the 36th District,” Smigiel said. “This is an obligation of the various central committees and should only be done by them.”
The vote in QAC brings the race to a 2-2 tie and O’Malley will pick the winner if none of the four counties in District 36 change their vote. Hershey won the votes of the Kent and Caroline central committees on Thursday and Friday — and Cecil went to Smigiel last Wednesday, as expected.
The Queen Anne’s Republican Central Committee voted late yesterday to nominate Smigiel after Audrey Scott, the former Republican State Party Chair, withdrew her name from consideration last week. Scott’s withdraw was prompted by reports that US Rep. Andy Harris, R-MD1, was exerting pressure on the committees to vote for Scott. Harris denied any involvement.
O’Malley is supposed to receive the names of the nominee, or nominees, by Sept. 10 to make his decision.
Gren Whitman says
Thanks for keeping Spy readers so up-to-date regarding this —- I’m trying to “be kind” and not laugh —- political transition.
Bob Amato says
“I suggest that, for the good of the Party, we agree to bring the two nominees before the members of the four central committees to profess our qualifications and debate any issues the members of said honorable central committees should desire,” Smigiel said. Classic Smigiel. He always wants to change the rules to benefit himself. As a Cecil County resident, I am glad to see Pipkin leave. He and Smigiel (The Smipkin) have waged a “War on Cecil County”. I hope to see Smigiel follow after the next election.
Mike Hunt says
Hershey only won (narrowly) over Sossi because of a negative and deceptive ad put out with the help of the Pipkin-Smigiel machine. To my knowledge, Hershey has never disavowed such tactics or apologized. Now he turns and bites the hand the fed him and lifted him into office. A nest of vipers…
Mike Hunt says
Willoughby has nothing to complain about. Each central committee gets to make its own choice. Queen Anne’s just as much as Caroline. And for that matter, Caroline didn’t even bother to interview candidates and mislead the lot of them that they would. Willoughby should be the last person to criticize.