Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans is involved in a tight race for reelection
Huntingtown, MD – The 2014 General Election in Calvert County was reaffirmation by the voters that the mantle of leadership remains with the Grand Old Party. The three incumbent Republican county commissioners will be joined by two GOP newcomers on the next board. Additionally, local Republicans scored significant victories in the Maryland General Assembly, which could result in added parity when the next legislative session convenes.
The only noted Republican still not absolutely certain of victory is incumbent Sheriff Mike Evans, who held a slim lead over Democrat challenger Craig Kontra. All of Evans’ previous races, primaries and generals, dating back to 2002, had been by huge margins.
“It’s not over yet,” Evans reminded the large gathering of local Republicans at the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department Hall. “It’s a wake-up call for me and I’m going to make some changes. We’ll know more Thursday morning.” At the end of the evening Evans led Kontra by 515 votes, with absentee votes to be counted Thursday, Nov. 6.
With their reelections, Current Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter and board Vice President Steve Weems—winners in the Second Election District and At-Large races respectively—debunked criticism in some circles that they had been disengaging and unresponsive to citizens. The brunt of that criticism has come from opponents of the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export project.
“I’m still going to work with the people from Cove Point,” said Nutter. “Their safety is paramount.”
The third incumbent, Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr., faced a challenge from Calvert Board of Education Vice President Kelly McConkey, a Democrat, in the Third Election District. During his Oct. 28 commissioner report, Slaughenhoupt railed against campaign literature which he labeled a distortion of his voting record. While not using McConkey’s name, Slaughenhoupt noted his opponent did nothing to distance himself from the mailed out campaign literature.
“People must be comfortable with the way things are going in Calvert,” said Slaughenhoupt, who added the Election Day numbers also indicated “a wave of people are not happy with what’s happening in Annapolis.” Slaughenhoupt garnered 55 percent of the vote. As the returns rolled in he said, “I’m very pleased. I was very comfortable this past month.”
As expected, Mike Hart notched an overwhelming victory in the First Election District race, outpolling his Democratic opponent, Emad Dides by 15,294 votes. “It’s been a very long year,” said Hart, who saluted the incumbent he defeated in the June Primary, Jerry Clark. “Jerry’s been very good to me,” said Hart, adding, “I love my county.”
Former assistant sheriff Tom Hejl bested three other candidates for the second at-large seat. Hejl outpolled his closest opponent, former delegate and Maryland Veterans Affairs secretary George W. Owings III by over 3,300 votes.
“This is a very humbling moment for me,” said Hejl, who thanked the other outgoing commissioner, Susan Shaw, for her support during the campaign. “She gave me advice along the way. I truly look forward to doing this job.”
The most emotional address at the GOP gathering was delivered by Delegate Mark Fisher, who had praise for his campaign team and criticism for his challenger and the legislature’s Democratic leadership. Fisher, who will represent District 27C, accused both Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch of trying to gerrymander him out of the legislature. Additionally, he admonished opponent Sue Kullen for her “Know Fisher” strategy. “The people of Calvert County said ‘no to Sue Kullen.’ All the money for this [Fisher’s] campaign was raised here in Calvert County,” Fisher said.
Fisher drew loud cheers when he proclaimed, “the Republican Party is the party of the middle class.”
Delegate Tony O’Donnell, who easily won his fifth consecutive term to the legislature representing District 29C, thanked the Calvert County Republican Central Committee and noted with victories pending in St. Mary’s County the gap between Democrats and Republicans in Annapolis was about to get narrower.
“It is fabulous,” said Calvert Republican Central Committee Chair Ella Ennis of the day’s overall result.
According to national Republican political pundit and Chesapeake Beach resident Richard Manning, the GOP’s dominance in Calvert was significant. “It’s a tremendous victory for Republicans and a complete rejection of the state Democratic machine,” Manning said.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
