The 10-mile carpetbagger test
Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. has drawn a lot of attention recently for indicating an interest in the District 7 state senate job soon to be vacated by incumbent Republican Andy Harris, who is expected to run for the 1st District congressional seat next year.
Of all the commentary and speculation to emerge from this, the most intriguing is the observation put forth by Republican Del. Pat McDonough to Sun columnist Laura Vozella that the county executive, a Democrat who was born and raised in Baltimore County, is a "carpetbagger."
First, let's just all agree that's a wonderfully ironic idea considering that Senator Harris lost his first bid for Congress, in part, because the Cockeysville resident was seen by many Eastern Shore voters as a bit of a carpetbagger himself. The senator, an anesthesiologist, has since decided to set up a part-time practice in Salisbury to try to correct that impression.
But at least it's more than 100 miles from Cockeysville to Salisbury. Mr. Smith is originally from Reisterstown and works in Towson. That's not exactly a world away from Cockeysville. A Baltimore marathon set up between Reisterstown and Cockeysville would be a race 16 miles too short, unless participants are forced to run extra laps around Owings Mills Mall.
Even in the Reconstruction era when the original carpetbaggers were Northerners who journeyed hundreds of miles to take advantage of Southerners after the Civil War, some actual travel was involved.
Is Maryland really so parochial? Most suburbanites have longer commutes for work. Perhaps living in such a relatively small state geographically has forced us to think tiny, too. Unfortunately, that dooms all District 7 politicians to be carpetbaggers since they must live in either Baltimore or Harford counties as portions of the district are in both.
No doubt opponents will find legitimate reasons to criticize Mr. Smith for whatever office he may seek (assuming he runs for office next year). But if moving 10 miles from home is the new definition of carpetbagging, it's going to be tough to fill all those political jobs without enlisting a lot of those suitcase-toters.
Comments
Jim Smith has done a great job in BC. Our prop tax and piggy back tax have not gone up under his leadership. He even had a surplus last year. I would reserve "carpetbagger" for someone from out of state, not next door.
Any area would do well with Mr. Smith.
Posted by: Fed Up | October 12, 2009 12:27 PM
The criticism warranted is for the gerrymandering that has Salisbury in the same district as Cockeysville.
Or is that just too obvious to warrant commentary Peter?
Posted by: MrRational | October 12, 2009 12:28 PM
With a million dollars in the bank Mister Smith is in the position to dole out cash and effect political races throughout the so called Free State-
why no mention of that? Does he really want to work for the people or is this another power grab by yet another politician who so loves to drink from the public well. I find today's politicians all carpetbaggers both on the right and the left. It is ridiculous to have a district that goes from Cockeysville to Salisbury to begin with. Annapolis in its gerrymandering glory!
Posted by: jay | October 12, 2009 12:31 PM
A "carpetbagger" is a political opportunist who changes geographic location for some perceived political/economic advantage. The notion of counting the miles is foolish. Is he/she more of a carpetbagger the further they travel? No. The folks from Vermont say it best; "Just because the cat had kittens in the oven, doesn't make them muffins". That is, if you ain't from here, you'll never be, no matter how hard you try. Harris is rightly recognized by the reasonable folks from the Shore as a political opportunist; i.e., a carpetbagger.
Posted by: mdr | October 13, 2009 8:20 AM
While we are considering fairness, mdr, shouldn't we consider that Parris Glendenning and the Maryland General Assembly created the 1st Congressional District and included such diverse communities as Cockeysville and Ocean City in the same district. Is that Harris' fault? Did he move to run in that district? No. Opening an office in another part of the district only demonstrates his commitment to the people there.
Mr. Smith didn't have to move to run for the State Senate. He saw the open seat as an easier win than the primary in his home district where he would be the challenger. He is unlikely to face serious primary competition in the 7th district.
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | October 13, 2009 9:18 AM
Bruce Robinson:
You've made a classic error of debate; i.e., inferring that I support the Maryland Dems due to my distaste for Harris. Not so. I have low regard for the lunatic fringe of both parties. The dearth of Maryland moderates (both GOP & Dems) has made Maryland politics the sandbox of the lunatic left. What did it get us? The highest tax increase in history during a severe economic downturn. The GOP alternative? Family values and prayer in schools...........(sigh)
Posted by: mdr | October 13, 2009 12:41 PM