Mike Evans is the Only Sheriff in Southern Maryland to Keep His Post
By David Noss
CALVERT COUNTY, Md. - Other than losing their president, little will change on the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. Sitting Board President, David F. Hale (R), gave up his seat in a failed bid for State Delegate of District 27B. Incumbent Sue Kullen (D) will retain that position.
Commissioner incumbents Wilson Parran (D), Susan Shaw (R), Linda Kelley (R), and Jerry Clark (R) will retain their thrones. Mark Frazer (D) will join them as the fifth commissioner. This December, the board will elect a President and Vice-President by majority vote.
Sheriff Mike Evans (R) is the only sheriff in the tri-county area to hold on to his seat. Sheriff David Zylak (D) was unseated by Tim Cameron (R) in St. Mary’s County and Rex Coffey (D) edged out Fred Davis (R) in Charles County.
Sheriff Evans today thanked the citizens of Calvert for their “vote of confidence” in Tuesday’s election. “It has been my honor to serve each and every citizen of Calvert County regardless of your party affiliation,” said Evans in his letter. “To each of you that voted for my opponent, I hope my actions over the next four years will make each of you choose to support me in 2010.”
Three other incumbents in key county offices also kept their seats. Nova Tracy-Soper (R) beat Grace Mary "Gracie" Brady in the race for County Treasurer. Kathy P. Smith (D) beat Doris Davis and will keep her position as Clerk of the Circuit Court. Margaret H. Phipps (D) beat challenger Weldon L. Fossett (R) by more than two to one in the race for Register of Wills.
Republican Laura Martin captured the State’s Attorney job beating out incumbent Democrat Greg Wells by approximately 1,400 votes.
Three Democrats and three Republicans competed for three seats on the bench as Judges of the Orphan’s Court. The top three vote earners were Jessie Bowen (D), Barbara Elliot (D), and Diance Tracy (R). Tracy squeaked out a win over incumbent Leslie Downs by just ten votes.
At the state level, Calvert voted against the majority of Marylanders in selecting Steele for U.S. Senator, Ehrlich for Governor, and McCarthy for Comptroller. They did vote with the majority in selecting Gansler for Attorney General.
Under-funded and under-publicized Green Party candidate Steven Warner captured almost 23 percent of the vote for Hoyer’s job as Representative of Congressional District Five. Warner took 18 percent in Charles County and 18 percent in St. Mary’s County proving that support for Hoyer in Southern Maryland is anything but unanimous. Hoyer has officially announced his intent to seek the House Majority leader role—a decision that will be made by his fellow Democratic House members.
Both incumbent Democratic Maryland State Senators that represent Calvert County will retain their positions. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., who also represents Prince Georges County, beat Republican Ron Miller with 57 percent of the Calvert vote. Miller has the added distinction of being the President of the Maryland Senate.
The much ballyhooed battle for District 29 ended in a whimper as Roy Dyson crushed his Republican opponent Thomas McKay by a greater than expected margin. Dyson, who primarily represents St. Mary’s County and a small sliver of Charles County, carried 55.65 percent of the Calvert vote.
The Democratic Party will continue to represent Calvert County in the Maryland House of Delegates. All four of the incumbents won by healthy margins—especially in District 27A where both Democrats beat their Republican contenders by a margin of more than three to one.