A Republican Party official said it is a shame that voters had to spend $15,000 to $27,000 to have dinner with vice-presidential candidate John Edwards.
“For a campaign that drones on and on about ’two Americas’ and that bills itself as the undisputed champion of the ’working man,’ this is pretty amusing, not to mention disingenuous,” said Deborah Martinez, a state Republican Party spokeswoman. “I’d like to know what working man in America can afford to spend $1K, much less $15K for some exclusive dinner.”
Mr. Edwards was in Annapolis on Friday night, speaking at a rally at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold before attending a Kerry-Edwards fund-raiser at a private home in Annapolis. The party, at a cost of $15,000 per person, or $27,000 per couple, was well-attended, said Isiah “Ike” Leggett, chairman of the state Democratic Party.
“That is why we have the rally” before the dinner, he said. “The rally is for all the other people.”
Mr. Edwards’ trip was a rare visit to Maryland by a major party candidate for president or vice president.
With Maryland considered a solidly Democratic state, a Republican Party spokeswoman said neither President Bush nor Vice President Dick Cheney has been in the state for a campaign event or to raise money.
• Off to China
Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is leading a delegation of state officials and private business leaders on an economic development trip to Singapore and China.
The group left Saturday and will spend two days in Singapore and three days in Shanghai before returning to Maryland on Friday.
Mr. Ehrlich is being accompanied by two staff members and officials of the state Department of Business and Economic Development. Officials said the cost to the state will be about $40,000.
This is the governor’s second overseas trade mission. He visited Israel a year ago.
The delegation for the trip also includes representatives of more than 20 Maryland-based companies as well as officials from Anne Arundel County and Rockville.
• Turnout in Fairfax
Fairfax County officials expect voter turnout to be high on Nov. 2.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly predicted last week that turnout could reach 80 percent. He told WTOP Radio that several measures have been taken to ensure there aren’t any problems with touch-screen voting machines.
Last November, some of the new machines generated long lines, late vote tallies and a lawsuit.
In addition to casting a ballot for president, Fairfax County voters will be asked to approve four bond referendums to start long-ignored road projects — and to improve parks and mental health centers.
• Son a successor
Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has appointed Republican Allan Kittleman to fill the state Senate seat left vacant by the death of his father, Robert H. Kittleman.
Mr. Kittleman will serve the remaining two years of his father’s unexpired term in District 9, which spans Howard and Carroll counties.
Mr. Kittleman is a lawyer and member of the Howard County Council.
In related news, Mr. Ehrlich has dedicated a portion of Route 32 in honor of the late senator. To note the designation, the State Highway Administration will erect two signs along the road and a plaque on the Great Star Road bridge above the road.
• Duncan’s plan
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan hasn’t said whether he plans to run for governor in 2006, but he is letting fellow Democrats on the Eastern Shore know he has been thinking about issues of interest to them.
Mr. Duncan was in Federalsburg a week ago for an address to Caroline County Democrats.
He told the gathering that politicians in Annapolis are too concerned with re-election and not concerned enough about long-term planning for the state. And he condemned proposals to expand gambling as a quick fix for the state’s financial woes.
Mr. Duncan also said the government has to find a way to work with local communities, farmers and the state to halt runaway growth on the Eastern Shore. And he said farmers need support, so they can help preserve their way of life.
• Battle of barbs
Virginia Democrat Bobby Scott and his Republican challenger, Winsome E. Sears, flung accusations and barbs last week in Norfolk at their second public debate.
The candidates are vying for the 3rd Congressional District seat that Mr. Scott holds.
Several Norfolk residents questioned the candidates on everything from Iraq to tax policy to port security in a town-hall-style debate.
Mrs. Sears continued her campaign theme of attacking Mr. Scott’s voting record, saying the congressman had voted against “low-income families … Social Security … and his constituents.” The Republican said she hopes to pull off a surprising upset of a Democrat who has held his seat for six terms.
Mr. Scott derided Mrs. Sears for attacking his voting record, and said she is attacking him “because I stand up for the Constitution.”
• Growing council?
Salisbury, Md., officials will consider whether to increase the size of the City Council from five to seven members.
Todd Smith, an employee at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, who lives in Salisbury’s minority voting district, made the suggestion in an e-mail to council members.
City Council member Lavonzella Siggers, who represents the minority district, expressed support for the concept at a recent council meeting. Miss Siggers said she will make a formal proposal for the council’s consideration at an upcoming work session, which has not been scheduled.
Council President Mike Dunn said past voter turnout indicates now might not be the time to expand the panel. Mr. Dunn and council members Lynn Cathcart and Gary Comegys were elected last year by 26 percent of the city’s registered voters.
• Buyout bonus
Virginia officials said last week that the passage of a $10.1 billion tobacco quota buyout by Congress will help the state’s struggling tobacco farmers.
The Senate gave final approval to the bill ending the Depression-era system of quotas on tobacco farmers that artificially increased their costs.
Virginia tobacco growers and quota holders will be paid about $666 million over the next decade, U.S. Sen. George Allen said.
The final version of the legislation, which is part of a larger corporate tax bill, stripped language that would have allowed the federal government to regulate tobacco.
Virginia, the fifth-largest tobacco-producing state, has about 8,400 tobacco farmers and more than 12,000 tobacco-related jobs.
• Robert Redding Jr. contributed to this column, which is based in part on wire service reports.
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