Union lawyer wants balance in conservative district
Democrat James "Ward" Morrow, a union attorney, says he wants to displace the "right-wing fringe" now populating the state legislative seats in District 7, which includes eastern Baltimore County and a portion of Harford. That's where Republican Del. Patrick L. McDonough -- who recently announced he'd try to replicate Arizona's controversial illegal immigrant crackdown in Maryland -- was the top vote-getter four years ago.
Morrow, who filed this week for the House of Delegates race, is an attorney for the American Federation of Government Employees and was counsel to the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. He also spent a decade as a Baltimore city prosecutor. He announced his bid in a press release yesterday, which noted that he'd (unsurprisingly) been endorsed by a teachers union.
The all-Republican district, where Andrew P. Harris is state senator, also includes Del. Richard K. Impallaria and Del. J.B. Jennings. The political musical chairs in that part of the state are likely to be some of the most exciting political contests this fall.
Harris is leaving his Senate seat to run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil, a Democrat who narrowly defeated him in the last election.
Jennings and former state insurance commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. will square off in the Republican primary for Harris' seat. Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a Democrat who is leaving because of term limits, also has signaled he may run for the Senate seat -- by moving to an apartment in the district last year.
And, with Morrow's filing, the delegate battles are now taking shape. Others who have filed include Democrats David "Ski" Mioduszewski and Rebecca Weir Nelson and Republicans John Cromwell, Roger Zadjdel and Jim Berndt. Impallaria also has filed, and McDonough is expected to do so before the July 6 deadline. The primary election will narrow the field to three candidates from each party. The top three vote earners in the general election will get the seats.
Republicans dominated District 7 in the last election. Harris defeated the Democratic challenger by more than 13 percentage points. In the delegate race, McDonough received the most votes, and Jennings, who came in third, topped the Democratic candidate by a 4,000-vote margin.
Impallaria and McDonough have both loudly called for the state to get tough on illegal immigrants. Impallaria, who owns a body shop, has been a delegate for seven years. McDonough, one of the most outspoken conservative thinkers in the Maryland General Assembly, has represented District 7 since 2003. Fun fact: McDonough also served in the House from 1979 to 1983 -- as a Democrat representing Baltimore City.
"McDonough and Impallaria have created an environment that makes it difficult for the voices of reason and common sense to be heard over their grandstanding," Morrow said in his press release, citing this as a chief reason he is running.
Comments
Is Democrat this clown's given first name?
Or is he James Murrow, a union lawyer and Democratic Party member?
Posted by: Gus Smegma | June 10, 2010 1:22 PM
Typical liberal Democrat BS: If you're conservative, you're part of the "right wing fringe," or is it the "vast right wing conspiracy?"
Posted by: trebort49 | June 10, 2010 1:43 PM
The word balance in the title is very deceiving. There is no balance in Annapolis. The Democrats hold a solid majority. There is no balance with the leadership of a union of government employees. These unions have bankrupt our state. All a union lawyer wants to achieve in government is tyranny, not balance.
Posted by: Steve | June 10, 2010 2:46 PM
Democrtas have controlled both houses of the State legislature since 1898.
Tell me exactly who's voice is not being heard??!!
Posted by: Larry Leone | June 10, 2010 3:33 PM
Just what the county needs! Another SEIU type union hack lawyer. Aren;t there enough damn lawyers and are they not the ones screwing it all up?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2010 3:40 PM
Here is this union hacks weblog. It's all you need to know about him. It will tell all voters just what they need to know to NOT vote for him.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/jameswardmorrow
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2010 3:43 PM
I promise you, this guy will NEVER get my vote. Just what we need, another democrat union lawyer to bring about "balance" (that's laughable)!
On huge reason to throw up the red flag is ~ Union Attorney! OMG! Like we need another voice for the unions?! Get lost Morrow! This state is already unbalanced and in the direction in which you are coming from!
Posted by: Kurt | June 10, 2010 4:14 PM
If we don't stop this, as per the most recent border shooting with the Mexican Army pointing their weapons at our agents we are headed for some real ugly issues that have yet to be played out.
Let's stop pandering to the illegals and uphold the law of this land, one in which many have given their lives to defend.
We are a nation of laws. It's not pick and choose. Pat McD is one of the few with enough guts to take a stand.
Posted by: Buzz Beeler | June 11, 2010 12:35 AM
What about balance in liberal districts? This money will be beneficial for the economy - but there isn't a snowball's chance in hell an attorney for organized/legalized crime will win in a district of responsible voters.
Posted by: TheBaltimoreColt | June 11, 2010 10:33 AM
Let the Demorcrats spend their money running for a race they likely won't win...better than pumping it into lobbyists. It's good that a Union lawyer is representing the left here...no chance that he will be able to disguise himself as a moderate. Hope Morrow spends lots of money and loses big! I hear he is pompous and elitist, living high while dismissive of the "little guy"--a perfect representative of the vast left wing hypocracy.
Posted by: JusttheFactsLady | June 12, 2010 1:24 AM