Larry Haines

Carroll County, long a Republican stronghold, is more so after the Nov. 6 election. The party picked up the county sheriff's office and held onto two of the three seats on the Board of Commissioners. Carroll Republicans now occupy virtually every patronage and policy-making office in one of metropolitan Baltimore's most desirable subdivisions.Residents will likely witness a greater shift toward conservatism. Though Republicans Julia Gouge and Donald Dell can outvote Democrat Elmer Lippy, they should not slow down projects demanded by their constituents.

Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Griffith has received support from two seemingly unlikely sources -- the GOP senator who lost in the primary to his opponent and his opponent's brother.The Griffith campaign issued a press release late Friday saying it had invited Sen. Sharon W. Hornberger, R-Carroll, Baltimore, to a fund-raiser today that is expected to attract Democratic Gov. William Donald Schaefer and Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr., D-Prince George's.Hornberger, defeated by Larry E. Haines in the Republican primary, said Friday she planned to attend, but had not "aligned myself in any official capacity with the Griffith campaign."

Volunteers for Democratic state Senate candidate Cynthia H. Cummings claim a man and woman who drove through a South Carroll neighborhood in a car identified as belonging to the daughter of a prominent local Republican took their candidate's campaign brochures from newspaper boxes.State police are investigating the incident, but refused to release any information yesterday.Ms. Cummings is running against Republican Larry E. Haines for the state Senate district that covers eastern and central Carroll County.

The Senate Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee surprised Sen. Larry E. Haines, R-Carroll, Baltimore, by killing his Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action flag bill by a 6-5 vote Friday.The freshmancommittee member said he had expected the bill to pass because no one testified in opposition to it and the committee chairman supported it.Haines said he will ask the committee to reconsider the bill to clear up any confusion about the legislation. The bill would require principal county and municipal office buildings and the State House here to fly the POW/MIA flag during normal business hours to heighten awareness of the issue.

State Sen. Larry E. Haines of Carroll County was taken from the State House to Anne Arundel Medical Center last night after complaining of chest pains. Haines received initial treatment at the State House infirmary, and a doctor there persuaded him to go to the hospital for further tests. Haines, 63, was alert and sitting up on a gurney as he was wheeled from the State House basement about 8:45 p.m., shortly after the Senate had convened. Haines, a Republican, is the Senate minority whip.

A major hurdle to the construction of a new nursing and allied health building at Carroll Community College was lifted Monday night when the General Assembly approved amendments to the state construction budget that included $2.7 million in funding for the building. When the governor announced his capital budget for fiscal 2003, the building was excluded. Carroll Sen. Larry E. Haines, Carroll Community College President Faye Pappalardo and county agencies lobbied legislators to reinstate bond projects such as this in amendments to the bill.

State Del. Richard N. Dixon, state Sen. Charles H. Smelser and Willard Hawkins, a longtime Carroll County resident and former superintendent of Garrett County public schools, were recently awarded honorary doctorates of public service by the Carroll Community College board of trustees.Their efforts helped the college obtain equitable state funding and planning and construction funds for the library, said Barbara Charnock, board chair."Both Delegate Dixon and Senator Smelser were tireless in working with Gov. [William Donald]

ANNAPOLIS -- Carroll Sen. Larry E. Haines, R-District 5, testified for the second year in a row that judges and juries should be allowed to impose the death penalty on gunmen convicted of killing innocent bystanders in drug-related cases.The Senate passed the bill last year, but the House killed it.Yesterday, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 74, which Mr. Haines said would "modernize" the death penalty law.George M. Lipman, of the state Office of the Public Defender, opposed the bill because, he said, it would increase costs, give prosecutors too much discretion and make the death penalty law -- designed to "be narrow and precisely drawn" -- meaningless.

Abortion once again is before the state Legislature. Proposals rangefrom Delegate Lawrence A. LaMotte's bill to affirm the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 legalization of abortion, to bills co-sponsored by Sen.Larry E. Haines that would restrict abortions except under extreme circumstances and prevent abortions on minors without parental consent.Should abortions be legal and readily available in Carroll? Should parents be notified if children plan an abortion? Should minors berequired to undergo counseling first?

State Sen. Larry E. Haines, R-Carroll, Baltimore counties, and the Senatorial Scholarship Committee, recently awarded scholarships to students residing in Legislative District 5.Graduates from four of the county's high schools received scholarships, which are good for upto four years, or until an undergraduate degree is earned. Scholarships vary from $400 to $800 each.Carroll County students receiving scholarships are:* Liberty High School: Kathleen A. McCloskey, Elizabeth A. Mintzer, Jeffrey M. Wagner, Denise R. Westrick, Rebecca M. Woodford.