Delegate Mark Fisher praised his fellow Republicans for their efforts Tuesday, May 21 when the Calvert GOP celebrated the opening of its new headquarters. “The Republican Party in Calvert County is on the rise,” Fisher declared. The move from the local party’s previous headquarters in the Kaine Building on Duke Street, Prince Frederick, to its new location in the King Building on Solomons Island Road took place several weeks ago.
Last year the unit served as the headquarters for Delegate Tony O’Donnell’s campaign for Congress. Prior to that, the space was occupied for several decades by the Calvert Independent, co-founded by Republican stalwart Edward T. Hall.
“This place has already had a lot of phone-banking and political work,” said O’Donnell.
In addition to Fisher and O’Donnell, all five Calvert County Commissioners were on hand for the celebration. Also in attendance were Diana Waterman, the newly selected chair of the Maryland Republican Party; and the state GOP’s first vice chair, Charles County resident Collins Bailey.
Waterman told the audience that Republicans in the heavily Democratic jurisdictions of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties were already working hard in anticipation of the 2014 Election. She asked the Calvert partisans to join in the effort “not next year, now. Get ready to help your candidates here and all over Maryland.”
Later, Waterman, who resides in Queen Anne’s County, said that while the state Republicans would love to see leadership changes in Annapolis—via the gubernatorial and legislative races—“the focus is everywhere. We really hope to build on our success in 2010.”
Still, she admitted Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore City would be tough transitions from blue to red. “You can’t get away from the demographics,” said Waterman. “We’re trying to find the races where we have the best chance. This is a long-term project.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
