7th District

John Olszewski Sr., a product of the Battle Grove Democratic Club with strong machine support on Baltimore County's east side, battled political upstart Debi Golden last night to gain his second term on the County Council in the 7th District, which includes Dundalk. With less than 10 percent of Dundalk's 31 precincts in, Olszewski was leading Golden by about a 3-to-1 margin. The winner of that race will be spared a general election face-off because there are no Republicans contesting the 7th, traditionally a Democratic stronghold.

The scramble for Rep. Kweisi Mfume's congressional seat is on.At the top of just about everyone's short list of potential candidates is the Rev. Frank M. Reid III, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke's step-brother and pastor of West Baltimore's Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which boasts a congregation of more than 10,000.The surprise announcement Saturday that the 7th District Democrat from West Baltimore was leaving Congress in February to head the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People caught many Maryland politicians flat-footed.

Residents of Anne Arundel's South County area attended a hearing in Annapolis last night to throw support behind a redistricting proposal that they say will best promote the interests of farmers, homeowners and crabbers alike. "We are very concerned about the preservation of land in the South County," said Bristol resident Charlotte Smutko, president of the South County Exchange. "We need our own representative." Residents weighed in on revising the county's seven voting districts at the public hearing, held in the Arundel Center by the Charter Revision Commission - a panel asked by the County Council to revise council districts to reflect 2000 Census data.

A proposed shelter site in Joppa for Harford County's homeless was withdrawn yesterday in response to strong community opposition, likely restarting a search process that has been several years in the making. Faith Communities and Civic Agencies United, a consortium that has sought a shelter site since the 1990s, announced its withdrawal last night at a community meeting at Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Edgewood. The group withdrew the proposal after witnessing the public display of opposition from both the community and the area's 7th District legislative delegation.

Democrat Elijah E. Cummings, a four-term legislator from West Baltimore, coasted to victory last night in the special election to replace Kweisi Mfume as Maryland's 7th District representative in Congress.Mr. Cummings crushed Kenneth Kondner, a Republican from Woodlawn, in the race to complete the last nine months of Mr. Mfume's term, after his exit from Congress in February to head the NAACP.With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Mr. Cummings, 45, the Maryland House speaker pro tem, captured 81 percent of the vote.

PAT SCHROEDER, Norman Mineta, Tom Bevill. In all, 20 Democrats have decided the Republican takeover of the House means it's time for them to move on. The result could be a firmer hold on the reins of power by the Republican majority. The liberal Democrat likely to replace Kweisi Mfume is in for some rough times.It will take an exceptional person to take on this job. Mr. Mfume had the benefit of Democratic leadership during most of his five House terms. But as Congress changed, so did he, from a --iki-wearing activist to a tailored-suit conciliator able to gain praise even from conservative House Speaker New Gingrich.

THERE HAS BEEN little visible campaigning for the special election Tuesday to determine who finishes the nine months left in the 7th Congressional District term of new NAACP President Kweisi Mfume. The candidates didn't want to spend a lot of money in a contest that is expected to be one-sided. And the public, expecting the same, hasn't shown more concern.The lack of excitement belies the race's importance. The winner will likely win a full two-year term in November. Baltimore makes up most of the 7th, which also includes part of western Baltimore County.

The Sun makes the following endorsements for today's primary election. You may clip this list and take it with you into the voting booth.PRESIDENTDemocrat .. Paul TsongasRepublican..George BushUnited States SenateDemocrat .. Barbara MikulskiRepublican..Joseph CassillyHouse of Representatives1ST District-Wayne Gilchrist.. .. ..(R)Thomas McMillen.. .. ..(D)2ND District-Helen Bentley.. .. .. .(R)Michael Hickey.. .. .. (D)3RD District-William Brisker.. .. ..(R)Benjamin Cardin .. .. (D)4TH District-Michele Dyson.

The Associated Press has called several primary races in Maryland, declaring that Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski have topped the little-known Democrats challenging them. Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has won his primary against investor and businessman Brian Murphy, according to the AP, with early results showing Ehrlich ahead by a 4-to-1 margin. The following incumbent Democratic members of congress have also been declared winners: C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (2nd district)