Amedori

The question of who will be Carroll County's newest judge -- a post that embodies the principle of fairness and impartiality -- has set off a series of partisan volleys.The decision returns to Democratic Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who must consider Carroll County's overwhelmingly Republican political base, and whether anyone he chooses would face a battle for acceptance in the conservative county."Deal-making, political contributions, back-scratching -- all of the things political campaigns bring with them, you find being heaped upon the branch of government that was designed to be immune from them," said Damian L. Halstad, a Westminster lawyer who was appointed by Glendening to the Carroll Circuit Court bench Oct. 13.Halstad, a Democrat, announced Monday night he was declining the appointment because of the battle promised by Republicans in the next election.

Much of the contention that has marked Carroll County Charter Board meetings was absent Thursday. So was the Chairwoman Carmen Amedori, who resigned last week, and one member who left in a show of support for Amedori.The remaining seven members moved quickly through revisions to the proposed document -- changes suggested by the Institute for Governmental Service (IGS), the county attorney, comptroller and finance officer.The last task facing the board is endorsement of the proposed charter, which would change county government from three commissioners to an executive and council.

What little is left of the campaign to keep or change Carroll County's form of government is being waged in pantomime.The few voices that are not silent are muted.Those who would be generals -- officials elected countywide -- have long since abandoned the battlefield, leaving a smattering of troops to mop up between now and May 2.On that day -- the first Saturday election in Carroll's history -- voters will decide whether to keep the three-commissioner form of government the county has known for 142 years or switch to a charter, with a county executive elected at large and a five-member county council elected by district.

The four candidates -- three Republicans and a Democrat -- vying to represent eastern Carroll County in the state House of Delegates agree on such concerns as fostering economic development and ensuring quality public education.Differences exist in style and partisan politics.One thing is certain. At least two Republicans will represent the majority of Carroll County residents in House District 5 next January. Three seats are available. The district covers eastern Carroll from Union Mills to Sykesville.

A sample ballot distributed by a group of county Republican candidates before the Sept. 15 primary election confused voters and affected the outcomes of two key races, a former candidate for county commissioner alleges in a complaint filed with the state prosecutor's office.George W. Murphy III, who finished last in a field of 14 candidates in the Republican primary, said the ballots changed the outcomes of the tight races for county commissioner and state delegate. Murphy has requested a formal investigation.

A festive group of anti-charter advocates gathered in the sunshine outside Carroll County's historic courthouse yesterday to air their objections to a proposed change in the county's form of government, in place for more than 100 years."

In the weeks before the May 2 charter election, supporters and opponents will be escalating their campaigns in an extensive series of public forums, debating an issue that could change the face of local government."

A Carroll County judge yesterday extended a temporary protective order against Carmen Amedori, charter board chairwoman and wife of the county state's attorney, who is accused by her ex-husband of abusing their daughter.Circuit Judge Francis M. Arnold extended the protective order seven days. A week ago, he ordered that Amedori have no adverse contact with her daughter after Robert DePaola, the father, sought the court order. The girl is now living with her father.In extending the order, Arnold told Suzan E. Miller, a Westminster attorney representing DePaola, that he should be notified if a settlement cannot be reached.

A health care consultant and a well-known Republican activist are the latest candidates to file for local and state offices.Carmen Amedori, president of the Tri-District Republican Club, will seek one of Carroll's four seats in the House of Delegates, representing the 5th District. She is the fifth announced candidate."I want to work in the House so I can help bring back money and good legislation to Carroll County residents," said Amedori, a Westminster resident. "I want people to be secure and content to stay here."

Bickering among charter board members is stalling the momentum to get a proposal for a change in Carroll County government on the ballot this year.The nine-member board devoted eight months to writing a document that would give Carroll an executive and county council instead of three commissioners.Now, members are at odds, and the schedule for handing the document to the County Commissioners is uncertain. The commissioners have 120 days from receipt of the proposal to schedule a vote.The Institute for Governmental Service has reviewed the proposal and recommended minor changes, primarily in wording.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1999 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration. A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1999 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration. A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1999 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration. A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1999 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration. A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration. A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 until 2004, when she was appointed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission. A native of Baltimore and graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters, before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

The Carroll County Republican Central Committee has ousted one of its nine members, but the action will have no impact on the selection of a candidate to fill the delegate seat recently vacated by Carmen Amedori, committee members said yesterday. "These are two separate issues that are not connected in any way," said Michelle Jefferson, committee chairwoman. "We removed one of our members. This was not a rift, but more of a housekeeping issue." In a meeting Tuesday, committee members followed the bylaws and demanded the resignation of their colleague, Joe Burns Jr. "This was done in executive session and we cannot discuss the reasons," Jefferson said.

With the appointment of former Del. Carmen Amedori to the Maryland Parole Commission, jockeying for the District 5A House of Delegates seat has begun with four candidates expressing interest to the Carroll County Republican Central Committee. The committee, which is in charge of recommending replacements to the governor, began receiving inquiries before Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. named Amedori to the 10- member parole commission Friday. Rumors had been circulating for at least a month that the former journalist and paralegal would be appointed to fill a vacancy.

In Baltimore City 23-year-old man found fatally shot in home Thursday A 23-year-old man was shot and killed Thursday inside his Northeast Baltimore home, police said yesterday. Lorenzo D. "Huggie" Simpson, of the 1200 block of Kitmore Road, was found dead by his girlfriend when she arrived home shortly after 7 p.m., said Officer Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman. Simpson had been shot in the torso and was pronounced dead at the scene, Monroe said. In Anne Arundel Severn teen arrested in June 25 shootings A Severn teenager was ordered held without bail yesterday after being charged with the attempted murder of two people who were shot while walking in Spring Meadows about 4 a.m. June 25. Andrew Treyvaughn Brown, 18, of the 8500 block of Pioneer Drive, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of felony assault and two handgun charges.

Del. Carmen Amedori, a Republican who represents northeast Carroll County, has been tapped to fill a vacancy on the Maryland Parole Commission, according to the county's Republican Central Committee. Michelle Jefferson, chairwoman of Carroll's central committee, said yesterday that "we are hearing that it is supposed to be official as of July 1. Until it comes from the governor's office, it's not 100 percent." Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s office is keeping mum, declining to comment on personnel issues.