Harford County’s Gubernatorial General Election 2010 had its share of surprises (Glen Glass?) and certainties (David Craig dancing on stage as Black Eyed Peas blared), but before we relegate this election to the history books, let’s take one last look at some of the other incidents and anecdotes you might not have seen or heard on Tuesday night:
THE DAGGER MOBILE NEWS LABORATORY
One of the highlights of Election Night was the debut of our mobile news laboratory. One pickup truck parked outside of Craig/Ehrlich headquarters on Main Street in Bel Air + Dagger banner + wicker sofa and coffee table lifted from my mom’s dining room + netbook leeching WiFi from a “nearby source” = unprecedented news coverage of the election…and several near cases of frostbite.
Although we were frequently being confused with some sort of GOP campaign vehicle, to the delighted honks of passersby, the Dagger News Lab was a hit and served its purpose – getting us into the heart of the action and providing us a literal platform to host interviews with candidates.
But we weren’t the only ones to get a kick out of the mobile news lab. The aptly named Web Journalist Blog ran an assortment of a dozen and a half photos collected from news rooms across the country on Election Night, to show how each news organization gathered and processed the breaking news.
Right in there with NPR, Christian Science Monitor, and Seattle Times, is The Dagger.
Look for us in between The Denver Post and CNN:
Here’s a photo roundup of some newsrooms from across the country. Thank you to everyone for sending me your pics. I hope you had fun and ate decent pizza.
BANE’S VICTORY AIDED BY CURIOUS TIMING?
As The Dagger convened with a group of elected officials and well-connected politicos for several hours after the parties along Main Street had faded out, a number of interesting topics arose. One such topic was the late-election bombshell that a member of Sheriff Jesse Bane’s command staff, Maj. Mark Forwood, was being charged with a felony for his alleged role in a theft scheme and a misdemeanor for alleged misconduct in office.
The Dagger first broke the news of an investigation into Forwood’s activities in mid-April, but everyone assumed the case would mysteriously go away until after the General Election. No one would have imagined it would rear its head on Election Eve. While Bane was still able to fend off an impressive campaign by Republican Jeff Gahler, some of us gathered around the table Tuesday night wondered how the timing might have affected that race one way or another.
Terry Hanley, a Bel Air Town Commissioner and unsuccessful Republican candidate for Harford County Council this year, was certain the timing of the charges against Forwood directly resulted in Bane’s victory.
“If that came out a week ago instead of Election Eve, we’d have a different result tonight,” Hanley said.
There were more than a few nods of agreement around the table.
PLAYING THE NAME GAME
Barry Glassman is a well-known Republican from District 35 (northern Harford).
Glen Glass is a not quite so well-known Republican from District 34A (southern Harford, western Cecil).
After being appointed to the state senate upon Sen. Bob Hooper’s death in early 2008, Glassman found himself without opposition in either the Primary or General elections this year. As long as he remembered to vote for himself, Glassman was assured to return to Annapolis as a senator.
Glen Glass is a perennial candidate best known for campaigning alongside major highways during thunderstorms and plastering commuter parking lots and median strips with his ubiquitous purple signs. Glass had a difficult path to election again this year – facing the face of the local Tea Party, Patrick McGrady, and the son of the county executive, Randy Craig, in the Primary Election before advancing against the seemingly unbeatable Mary-Dulany James, surprising upstart Marla Posey-Moss, and McGrady again in the General Election. Yet Glass prevailed.
Ever courteous and careful not to appear to be taking any credit away from Glass, Glassman said Tuesday night he had at least one conversation with a woman who told him she had voted for him earlier in the day. Glassman recognized the woman and knew she lived in District 34 and not his District 35.
In this case, perhaps isolated, but perhaps not, the voter had seen a Republican Glass on the ballot and mistook it for Republican Glassman.
BATTLE OF THE UNCONTESTED
As the anticipation and anxiety built on Election Night, a few of the unopposed/uncontested candidates, perhaps feeling a bit left out of all the excitement or perhaps egged on by certain members of certain local media, started keeping track which of them was bringing in the highest percentage of votes.
According to the unofficial Election Night returns, here are the results in that unofficial race:
Jim Reilly (R) Clerk of the Circuit Court – 99.35%
Chad Shrodes (R) County Council District D – 99.29%
Joe Cassilly (R) State’s Attorney – 99.14%
Barry Glassman (R) Senate District 35 – 99.06%
Joe Woods (R) County Council District B – 99.03%
Dick Slutzky (R) County Council District E – 98.89%
Billy Boniface (R) County Council President – 98.19%
FINAL CUTS
– As County Executive David Craig gave his acceptance speech about how it was “going to be a good night for Republicans,” the Associated Press was nearly simultaneously calling the Maryland gubernatorial race in favor of Democrat Martin O’Malley.
– Democratic Register of Wills candidate Tom Hopkins conceded the race to Republican Derek Hopkins mere minutes after the early voting results were publicized. A few minutes later, each of the Hopkinses had made his way over to the Dagger Portable Journalism Studio to break the news – Tom at the nose of the vehicle and Derek at is tail, each giving their take on the situation, but unaware their opponent was just a few feet away.
– If we’re going to maintain our Eat Local, Buy Local, Read Localtheme here in Harford County, let’s try Listen Local. I’d much rather hear the live band in the Craig/Ehrlich headquarters belt out some more tunes than have the Black Eyed Peas dragged out for yet another victory celebration.
– To whoever left two pieces of Harford County victory cake on the small wicker coffee table in the back of the Dagger Mobile News Convoy, thank you. They were delicious as I sat and enjoyed them by myself in the unheated cab of my truck at about 1:30 Wednesday morning. While I was ill for most of the day Wednesday, I’ve chosen not to blame you or the cake.
Have any interesting anecdotes or observations to report from Election Day?
Type your comment below and let Harford County know.
Thad says
Did you see Art Helton’s “tweet” post-election?
“DIRTY TRICKS. My opponent sent out last minute mass internet message that ..Due to illness I had withdrawn from the campaign.Impact????”
Hello sore loserdom. Some folks without a direct bone in the race found it amusing giving Art’s knack for playing hard and loose with the facts. Did anyone else notice he lied about Jacobs owning two homes in Florida? Created a newspaper to endorse himself? But he’s worried about “mass internet” dirty tricks. Seriously, what century is he living in.
So, the big question is, did Art Helton wake up in District 34 or District 35 on November 3rd?
Michael Hiob says
Thad,
I didn’t see Helton’s post election tweet (or any other of his tweets….EVER), but I concur with your comments 100%.
BTW, you can be sure that he woke up in District 35 on November 3rd.
Also, he sold his “residence” in Havre de Grace not long after he lost to Nancy Jacobs 8 years ago. Any bets on how long will it take before his Joppatowne “residence” is for sale? Maybe he’ll unload it right away, or maybe he’ll wait for the housing market to turn around? Either way….it WILL be sold.
And although it works MOST of the time, it appears that massive amounts of money, coupled with lies and distortion doesn’t ALWAYS win the election (especially when it comes to such a flawed candidate). If only there was a better Democratic candidate….
Maybe now, the Helton’s have finally (and collectively) garnered enough defeats that they will stay off of the ballot forever.
Besides, at his age, Art should be happy exerting his influence over Aberdeen by proxy. And with the amount of property that Art owns in Aberdeen, it’s the best way to serve himself….and nobody’s better at that than “Senator” Art Helton.
Come on Art….admit that you’re the sleazy dinosaur that the majority of voters (and the VAST majority of INFORMED voters) in District 34 (and beyond) know that you are….and just go away.
Open Minded Dem says
Lord. You are so bitter and such a fake Dem that it’s sickening. Please go back to being irrelevant. Thanks.
DaddyRabbit says
Yea Hiob! You have no business having an opinion. If you were a good democrat you would back all democrat candidates no matter how sleazy they are. Besides what difference does it make if Senator Helton lives outside the district? He has the money and the pull so it’s OK for him to do what he wants. Those laws and stuff are foolish anyway. You should be ashamed of yourself. OpenMindedDem has shown you up. Vote the party line and be a good little dem next time.
Michael Hiob says
Daddy Rabbit….Is your tongue firmly stuck in your cheek? Love your post man…..!
Michael Hiob says
“Open Minded Dem” (hiding behind a “nom de plume”), I’m not bitter, in fact, I’ve VERY satisfied with the outcome in MARYLAND (except for the 1st Congressional District). That’s a good indicator that my Democratic “credentials” (as well as my integrity) are in order. Obviously you and Art (or are you one in the same?) lack the fortitude and the aforementioned integrity that MOST politicians lack. In fact, it appears as though it is YOU that is the bitter and biased clown behind a mask. Besides….what in my November 6th post is inaccurate? Like I said….JUST GO AWAY!
Open Minded Dem says
You are as smart as I imagined. My pointing out your bitterness had nothing to do with the election (well, not the election last week, anyway). Clearly you are holding quite a bit of animosity because of the outcome of your failed bid. Time to grow up some and move on. You lost. Just deal with it.
As for Yensan, another clown, I think way beyond my party (hence the Open Minded tag) and have, in fact, voted Republican in some races as recently as last week. Unlike Hiob and others, I think about who the best candidate would be despite party affiliation and personal bias.
You guys should both get on horses like Butch and Sundance and ride off in to the sunset. Or at least to Cecil county.
Buh-bye.
DaddyRabbit says
Yea! When will both of you guys realize that you lost an election. Having done so negates your right to comment or for that matter even think. I agree with Open Minded Dem when he says you two should go away, ride off into the sunset. You lost get over it now go away. Screw the first amendment!
Dave Yensan says
The one you have to pity here is the poor dumb slob who defines him or herself as a Dem or a republican. The political party is the bane of our system as it has evolved. Of course many folks are so simple that they have no ability to think beyond the party line. What a pity.
Another Political Critic says
I saw the Dagger Mobile News station and your live election coverage was greatly appreciated!!!
Mommie Dearest says
The Dagger Mobile was awesome! It was well-visited too, by candidates, voters and some of Bel Air’s most “colorful” residents. Thanks for a great job, and also for returning my furniture! GO DAGGER!