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February 12, 2009

O'Malley taps new state Democratic Party head

Laura Smitherman reports that Gov. Martin O'Malley has tapped a new head for the state Democratic Party. She writes:

Gov. Martin O’Malley has nominated Susan Turnbull to chair the Maryland Democratic Party. Turnbull, of Montgomery County, has been on the national stage as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and she returns to lead the state party at a crucial time as O’Malley seeks re-election next year and Democrats hope to hold on to gains they have made in recent elections.

The governor "seriously contemplated" whom to nominate, knowing the stakes, said Quincey Gamble, the party’s executive director. Turnbull, who would succeed Michael Cryor after he stepped down last month, will get a vote before the party’s executive committee next week. O’Malley e-mailed central committee members around the state about his choice last night, and Gamble predicted she’ll easily get the nod.

"2010 is going to be a big year for Democrats in Maryland, and Susie is going to be a great leader," Gamble said. "It’s a home run."

When Democrats didn't control the governor's mansion, the party leadership vote was a real contest, but as a matter of course, the chief executive of the state gets to select the leader of his party, so the vote this time is considered a formality.

Posted by Andy Green at 9:48 AM | | Comments (0)
        

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About the bloggers
Laura Smitherman has been ensconced in the State House basement, writing about the governor, General Assembly and vagaries of Maryland politics for several years. An erstwhile business reporter, her interest in politics dates to her days in Washington when she covered Congress and national campaigns for another media outlet. She now follows a range of policy debates from slot-machine gambling to universal health care and energy regulation, while keeping an eye on the next election.

Paul West covers Washington for The Baltimore Sun, continuing a tradition that began the month the paper was born, in 1837. He hasn't been in the DC bureau that long--only since Ronald Reagan was president. He's covered Congress, the White House and presidential campaigns as the paper's national political correspondent and Washington bureau chief. He's on the lookout for news of significance to Sun readers at the other end of the B/W Parkway. That includes the activities of the state's congressional delegation and anything else that might shed some light on the inner workings of the nation's capital.

Julie Bykowicz's first days as a political reporter, in January 2009, coincided with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's indictment and the start of the Maryland General Assembly's 426th legislative session. She focuses on coverage of state agencies, such as social services, juvenile justice and prisons. During the session, she wrote about the death penalty, slots parlors and speed cameras, among other hot topics. Julie began political reporting after more than seven years on The Baltimore Sun's crime desk. She lives in Baltimore and works primarily in Annapolis.

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