Maryland county executive elections, 2006

The election to choose County Executives in Maryland occurred on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The U.S. House election, 2006, U.S. Senate election, 2006, Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006, and Maryland General Assembly Election, 2006 took place on the same day. Seven charter counties elected a County Executive: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Wicomico County. This race coincided with the election for Maryland County Offices Election, 2006.

Anne Arundel County

The 2006 race was highly competitive, with the county continuing as a new partisan battleground.

The Democratic primary to replace outgoing County Exec. Janet S. Owens was won by 12-year County Sheriff George F. Johnson, IV, who defeated County Recreation & Parks Director Dennis Callahan. Johnson garnered the vast majority of the Democratic Party endorsements, including the Police Department and Fire Department Unions.[1] On March 1, 2006, potential Democratic candidate Barbara Samorajczyk announced that she was joining Johnson's campaign for County Executive as his environmental advisor.

Delegate John Leopold won the Republican nomination with 36% of the vote, defeating Phil Bissett, Delegate David Boschert, Tom Angelis, and Gregory V. Nourse.

Candidates

Democrats

• George F. Johnson, IV, County Sheriff and retired police officer, from Pasadena

Republicans

• John Leopold, three-term incumbent member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 31, former politician in the state of Hawaii, from Pasadena (WINNER)

Candidate links

Campaign Websites

• George Johnson for County Executive
• John Leopold for County Executive

Other Websites

• Sheriff George F. Johnson from Maryland Archives
• Sheriff George F. Johnso bio from Maryland Sheriffs Association
• Office of the Sheriff of Anne Arundel County
• John Leopold Biography from Maryland Archives

Government Links

• Maryland Campaign Finance Report Database

News Articles

Baltimore County

County Executive Jim Smith won election in 2002, and Republicans sought a strong candidate to take on this moderate executive in Governor Ehrlich's home county.

Candidates

Democrats

• James T. Smith, incumbent and former Circuit Court Judge (WINNER)

Republicans

• Clarence William Bell, Jr., former Maryland State Trooper (Lieutenant)

Candidate Links

• Jim Smith for County Executive
• Clarence William Bell, Jr. for County Executive

Harford County

The complexion of this race changed when term-limited incumbent County Executive James Harkins announced his resignation effective July 1, 2005, in order to take a job in the Ehrlich Administration. John O'Neil, Jr., Harford County Administrator under Jim Harkins served as interim County Executive until a successor took office. David R. Craig was chosen by the County Council as Harkins' successor on July 5 and took office on July 7.

Candidates

Republicans

• David R. Craig, Incumbent appointed County Executive, former Mayor of Havre de Grace, former Delegate and State Senator, from Havre de Grace. (WINNER) Beat Helton 51-49%. Billy Boniface council president /winner over Helton/ HC

Democrats

• Ann Helton, President, Harford Land Trust. Wife of Art Helton (former Harford County State Senator).

Campaign Websites

• Ann Helton for County Executive
• David Craig for County Executive

Howard County

Outgoing County Exec. James N. Robey (D) could not run for re-election due to term limits.

Candidates

Republicans

• Christopher J. Merdon, Howard County Council member representing District 1. Regional vice president for a software development company.

Democrats

• Kenneth Ulman, Howard County Council member representing District 4. Attorney. (WINNER)

Independents

• C. Stephen Wallis, Middle School Principal

Candidate links

• Harry Dunbar for County Executive
• Chris Merdon for County Executive
• Ken Ulman for County Executive

Montgomery County

This race was open after incumbent Doug Duncan stepped down, yet the Democrats expected to hold the seat due to their overwhelming numerical advantage. Former County Councilman "Ike" Leggett won the Democratic nomination with 61% of the vote in the September 12 primary.

Candidates on November Ballot

Democrat

• Isiah Leggett, former County Councilman, former state Democratic Party Chairman, and Howard University law professor. (WINNER)

Republican

• Chuck Floyd, 2004 MD District 8 Congressional Candidate.

Independent

• Robin Ficker, former member of MD House of Delegates, attorney, "NBA Heckler"

Former Candidates

Democrats

• Steven Silverman, County Councilman and lawyer, from Silver Spring. Garnered 35 percent of vote in September 12 primary.
• Robert Raymond Fustero, retired grocery clerk, unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Maryland in 2002, from Silver Spring. Received about 3 percent of the vote in the primary.

Candidate links

• Steve Silverman for County Executive
• Chuck Floyd for County Executive
• Ike Legett for County Executive
• Robin Ficker for County Executive

Prince George's County

County Executive Jack B. Johnson narrowly won the Democratic nomination against Rushern L. Baker, III, a vocal critic of Johnson's administration. Johnson was unopposed in the general election. The race broke the record for amount of money ever spent in a primary in the county, with both Baker and Johnson raising and spending over $1 million each.

Declared Candidates

Democrats

• Jack B. Johnson, incumbent and former State's Attorney (WINNER)
• Rushern L. Baker, III, former state delegate and current executive director of the Community Teachers Institute

Republicans

• no candidates filed

Candidate links

• Jack B. Johnson re-election website^{[dead link]}
• Rushern Baker campaign website

Wicomico County

In 2004, Wicomico County voters approved a charter amendment establishing an elected county executive, beginning in 2006.

Declared Candidates

Democrats

• Rick Pollitt, Fruitland, MD City Manager. (WINNER)
• Tom Taylor, self-employed videographer and editor from Salisbury, MD.

Republicans

• Ron Allesi, small business owner, past Chairman of the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee.
• BJ Corbin, businessman from Delmar.
• Bob Culver, businessman & gun rights advocate from Salisbury, MD.

• Brian Kilgore, owner of Eastern Shore Coffee and Early Dawn Mountain Spring Water (withdrew candidacy on 14 January 2006)

Candidate links

• Brian Kilgore, County Executive
• Ron Allesi, County Executive
• BJ Corbin for County Executive

See also