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October 8, 2009

Candidate Watch 2010: Jim Smith moving... to Maryland Senate?

The housing market is tough, but how's the job market? Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. is about to find out.

Sun Talker Laura Vozzella writes today that the term-limited Democratic county executive has put his Reisterstown house up for sale and is moving to an apartment in Cockeysville, in Republican state Sen Andy Harris' district.

"I am taking a serious look at the Senate seat in the 7th District," Smith tells Vozzella. Harris is expected to vacate his state seat to run for U.S. Congress against Rep. Frank Kratovil, a Democrat. Maryland law requires that a state Senate candidate live in the district at least six months prior to election, and Smith said he plans to move in November, regardless of whether he's sold his six-bedroom home (listed at $445,000).

Sure to be at Smith's apartment-warming party: Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who told me in July that he wants to see Smith in his chamber. Baltimore County insiders poo-poohed the idea at the time, saying Smith was destined for a statewide post or judgeship. Now? Maybe not so much.

Update: Editorialist (and former Baltimore County government reporter) Andy Green weighs in.

Second update: Del. J.B. Jennings, a Republican contender for the 7th District Senate seat, accuses Smith of carpetbagging. Baltimore County reporter Mary Gail Hare has the story.

CANDIDATE WATCH 2010 -- As the 2010 election season ramps up, we will be writing about candidates announcing their campaigns, or even just testing the political waters. If you have campaign news, please contact Laura Smitherman or Julie Bykowicz.


Posted by Julie Bykowicz at 3:26 PM | | Comments (2)
        

Comments

My thought is this is a case of Overblown Ego? Hey, give me a break, I'm still trying to digest the reasoning behind this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Posted by: Carole | October 9, 2009 8:51 AM

Jennings accuses Smith of carpetbagging and so does Joseph Steffen in his blog?

The obvious question is whether Steffen is working for or on behalf of Jennings.

Posted by: Chum | October 9, 2009 4:05 PM

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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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