Howard County Republican

WHAT'S THE old saying about closing the barn door after the animals have already gotten out? The ill-fated unity pledge sought by the Howard County Republican Executive Committee was a reminder of that homily. It was a poor attempt to stop what became fashionable locally in 1996, supporting candidates who don't share your party affiliation.Blame it on an election that year, which should have been nonpartisan -- the county Circuit Court judges' race. Instead of having candidates run on their merit as jurists, Maryland prefers to have the objectivity of its circuit judges questioned by their having to beg for money as well as votes.

The bright red and blue-lettered T-shirts worn by some Washington-bound protesters Saturday morning set the tone for the day of denouncing big government, high spending and President Barack Obama's agenda. "I'll keep my guns, freedom and money" was in red lettering. "You can keep the change" was in blue. Howard Del. Warren E. Miller, a Republican who later also showed up in a news photo taken at the march carrying a sign that said "Liar, Liar, pants on fire," wore one of the T-shirts. Loretta Shields, former GOP party leader in Howard, wore another that said "Proud member of the angry mob, and I vote."

DEL. NEIL F. Quinter says there's a bull's-eye on his back because of his gun-control views. Quinter, an outspoken first-term Democrat from a competitive Howard County district, is a lead sponsor of legislation to ban assault weapons in Maryland. Supporters of the bill say it is needed because a federal ban is about to expire. "The Maryland Republican Party has put me on its `target list' for defeat," Quinter said in a fund-raising message to supporters this month. "I also recently found out that a group of pro-gun activists met at Howard County Republican Party headquarters for the sole purpose of coming up with a strategy for defeating me because of the Maryland assault weapons ban that I am sponsoring in the House."

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's decision to suspend his campaign has left Howard County Republicans, like those across Maryland and the nation, with what may be a tough choice for some who don't consider Arizona Sen. John McCain conservative enough to lead their party in November. "I've said all along I'll support the party nominee -- obviously not with the same enthusiasm, but it will build. It's frustrating," said Louis M. Pope, Romney's Maryland campaign chairman and a former Howard County Republican party chairman who is now a Republican National Committeeman.

From The Sun, July 28-29, 1982, edition: Charles C. Feaga of Ellicott City was recently nominated by the Howard County Republican Central Committee to run as a candidate for the County Council. "I believe in the two-party system," said Mr. Feaga. Since all other council candidates are Democrats, he said, he decided "some diversity was needed." He believes voters should be offered a choice. A 49-year resident of the county, Mr. Feaga said taxes are the most important issue in the county.

The Maryland House of Delegates approved a bill yesterday that would lessen the penalty for sick people found with marijuana if they can prove they possessed it for medical reasons. In a 73-62 vote, the House passed what is called a "defense bill." The measure doesn't make marijuana legal for those who say they need it, but it allows a judge to impose just a $100 fine if it is shown the drug is a medical necessity. "I am not for expanding drug rights," said Del. Gail H. Bates, a Howard County Republican, "but ... there are times when medications do not work.

Columbia Incorporation: 'Who Feels for Goliath?'On July 26, the Howard County Republican Club unveiled its second Progress Initiative. This initiative dealt with the question xTC of Columbia incorporation and the future of Columbia. In this initiative, the Howard County Republican Club expressed our opposition to incorporation. However, in our initiative, we also called for alternatives.We explored two scenarios. The first scenario was a Columbia where management of open space maintenance would be assumed by contractors assigned by the county government.

Dissatisfied with what he considers a lack of diversity in the county's Republican party, a former political candidate wants to start a new local GOP organization to draw more minorities to the party.Columbia lawyer Arthur Reynolds says he wants to "reach out" to individuals who have not traditionally been part of the GOP mainstream.Figures show that last year, there were about 35,000 registered Republicans in the county, up about 10,000 from 1986. There were about49,300 Democrats, and about 12,000 people who listed themselves as unaffiliated.

Howard County Republican Victory '96 Headquarters will hold a grand opening from 6: 30 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. Friday at the K&M Lakefront North Building, 1st floor, 5550 Sterrett Place (across from the Columbia Mall).Admission: $5 for adults. Children are free. Refreshments will be served.Information: 418-5565.Police logWilde Lake: 10800 Green Mountain Circle: Someone smashed the glass in a living room window Saturday evening or early Sunday, but no entry was made.Hickory Ridge: 10300 block of Little Patuxent Parkway: Someone tried to steal a red 1993 Ford Mustang Saturday night.

Former Howard County Republican Club President William Albert Thies Jr. has no doubts that his political connections helped him get a job in the administration of GOP County Executive Charles I. Ecker."

From The Sun, July 28-29, 1982, edition: Charles C. Feaga of Ellicott City was recently nominated by the Howard County Republican Central Committee to run as a candidate for the County Council. "I believe in the two-party system," said Mr. Feaga. Since all other council candidates are Democrats, he said, he decided "some diversity was needed." He believes voters should be offered a choice. A 49-year resident of the county, Mr. Feaga said taxes are the most important issue in the county.

DEL. NEIL F. Quinter says there's a bull's-eye on his back because of his gun-control views. Quinter, an outspoken first-term Democrat from a competitive Howard County district, is a lead sponsor of legislation to ban assault weapons in Maryland. Supporters of the bill say it is needed because a federal ban is about to expire. "The Maryland Republican Party has put me on its `target list' for defeat," Quinter said in a fund-raising message to supporters this month. "I also recently found out that a group of pro-gun activists met at Howard County Republican Party headquarters for the sole purpose of coming up with a strategy for defeating me because of the Maryland assault weapons ban that I am sponsoring in the House."

The Maryland House of Delegates approved a bill yesterday that would lessen the penalty for sick people found with marijuana if they can prove they possessed it for medical reasons. In a 73-62 vote, the House passed what is called a "defense bill." The measure doesn't make marijuana legal for those who say they need it, but it allows a judge to impose just a $100 fine if it is shown the drug is a medical necessity. "I am not for expanding drug rights," said Del. Gail H. Bates, a Howard County Republican, "but ... there are times when medications do not work.

Warren E. Miller will arrive in Annapolis this week as Howard County's newest House of Delegates member on the eve of crucial votes on whether gambling, new taxes or deep budget cuts should be used to address a looming $1.2 billion shortfall. The 38-year-old conservative Republican, a management consultant, was chosen to succeed Howard Del. Robert L. Flanagan, who resigned to be Maryland's transportation secretary. Miller, who lives near Lisbon with his wife and two young children, was selected Monday night by secret ballot among the nine Howard County Republican State Central Committee members - of which he is one. He is expected to be sworn in by week's end. "I've got to balance what I feel the needs of Howard County to be with supporting [Gov.

Winning a four-year term in public office without having to run for election is every politician's fantasy, and one that is likely to soon come true for one Howard County Republican. Although Del. Robert L. Flanagan's selection by Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to be Maryland's secretary of transportation was just announced and confirmation by the state Senate is uncertain, local Republicans are jockeying for his seat in the House of Delegates. Three -- Carol Arscott, 47, a pollster, Warren Miller, 38, a management consultant and GOP central committee member, and Brian Harlin, 36, owner of a firm that manufactures Republican campaign signs -- have emerged, and most observers expect more candidates will come forward.

State Senate Minority Leader Martin G. Madden, a moderate Howard County Republican who helped craft Maryland's welfare reform program, said yesterday that he will end his 11-year career in elected office for personal and business reasons. Madden, 52, who has led the Senate's Republicans for three years, said he plans to leave his General Assembly seat at the end of the year. His district covers most of eastern Howard County and the Laurel area of Prince George's County. Madden is a self-employed insurance agent.

State Senate Minority Leader Martin G. Madden, a moderate Howard County Republican who helped craft Maryland's welfare reform program, said yesterday that he will end his 11-year career in elected office for personal and business reasons. Madden, 52, who has led the Senate's Republicans for three years, said he plans to leave his General Assembly seat at the end of the year. His district covers most of eastern Howard County and the Laurel area of Prince George's County. Madden is a self-employed insurance agent.

The president of the Howard County Republican Club says he's running for one of the two House of Delegates seats in District 13A.Scaggsville resident Michael Grasso, 33, who operates his own software engineering business and teaches computer science at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, plans to kick off his campaign for the November 1994 election at 7:30 p.m. July 20 at the Heatherfield Club House in Columbia.Mr. Grasso says he is concerned about state budget and taxation issues, citing a growth in spending that outpaced the rate of inflation in the late 1980s.

TRY AS she might, Ellen R. Sauerbrey is having no end of headaches getting the small-but-growing Republican Party in order for November. Blame it on Howard County.First, Howard County Executive Charles I. Ecker shuns overtures to join her ticket -- first as running mate, then as a comptroller candidate -- choosing instead to keep up a campaign for governor that even longtime supporters consider quixotic.Now, Paul H. Rappaport -- the former Howard police chief who Sauerbrey put on the political map as her 1994 running mate -- is shunning her efforts to put together a full ticket for the September primary election, when Rappaport is running for Maryland attorney general.