Party Affiliation

If you can't beat them, recruit them. That appears to be the tactic Republicans are employing against Democrats, who have dominated Anne Arundel County politics for years.At the urging of prominent GOP officials and activists, County Council Chairman C. Edward Middlebrooks formally changed his party affiliation Friday from Democrat to Republican. The move appears to be a prelude to a run for the state Senate against Democratic incumbent Michael J. Wagner.State Delegate John G. Gary, a Millersville Republican, said he and other party leaders have approached several Democratic TC elected officials who have Republican-like voting records -- including Mr. Middlebrooks, Del. John C. Astle and County Councilman David G. Boschert -- about switching party affiliation.

CAMBRIDGE -- Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley pledged last night to work cooperatively with local government officials to improve the state's education and transportation systems, foster economic development and protect the environment. Speaking to local elected officials and government workers at the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference, O'Malley, the Baltimore mayor, said he knew well what challenges county governments face and would seek input from them in developing his agenda for the state.

Ever since Sixth District Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett was elected in 1992, he has been marching to his own drummer. An avowed enemy of "big government," the Republican congressman consistently votes his principles rather than what might be politically popular.For example, he voted against extending federal unemployment benefits even though long-term joblessness is a persistent problem in his economically beleaguered Western Maryland district, which stretches from the western edge of the Baltimore metropolitan area to the Appalachian region.

Gwyn Eppard of Baltimore said the tip-off that something was fishy came when the woman caller purporting to represent the campaign of Del. Sandy Rosenberg didn't know the lawmaker's party but launched into a pitch for a casino in Prince George's County. "That made me kind of suspicious," she said.  Rosenberg, a Northwest Baltimore Democrat, said the call did not come from his campaign. "I certainly did not authorize anybody to call on my behalf," he said. "I certainly don't pay money to solicitors to pay people.

Mary Beth Tung and David "Oz" Osmundson are from different political parties, and they're running in different Howard County districts for seats in the Maryland House of Delegates. But they do have something in common. They're seeking office in districts where their respective political party is weak, something reflected in their early campaign literature. Tung, 46, a Clarksville Republican who ran for the same position in Democrat-dominated District 13 in 2002, doesn't mention her party affiliation on the brochure she's stuffed into hundreds of doors in the southeastern county district.

NAACP sponsors voter campaign The Howard County NAACP Youth Council is sponsoring an "Adopt-a-Block Program," focused on a get-out-the-vote campaign for young voters, this year. A "jump off" block party, the program's first event, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Guilford Gardens, 7333 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia. Food, entertainment, games, music prizes and an open microphone are planned. Admission is free. A candidates forum is planned for July 22, and a health fair is scheduled for Aug. 26. Programs are also planned on education and economic empowerment.

Howard County Sheriff Charles M. Cave is planning to run for re-election next year as a Democrat - a change in party affiliation that has irked Republican leaders and resulted in their vow to defeat him. The soft-spoken, first-term sheriff, who won election as a Republican in 1998, made the switch official in August and said he is planning to file his candidacy in the next several days. While local Democrats welcomed the addition of an incumbent to next year's ticket for countywide races, Cave's actions left local Republicans feeling betrayed.

David E. Carey Date of birth: April 12, 1964 Party affiliation: Democrat Professional experience: Attorney; commissioner of Bel Air, 1997-present; mayor of Bel Air, 2002, 2004, 2005; Harford County Democratic Central Committee, 1998-2002 (chairman, 2001-02) Education: Dulaney High School; College of Wooster (Ohio); University of Baltimore School of Law Personal: Married; president, Maryland Municipal League, 2006. Served on BRAC Planning Advisory Council (2006) What is the most important issue facing Harford County?

MOSCOW -- Sitting comfortably in one of their monuments to privilege, nine angry Communists gathered yesterday to denounce Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin for trampling on the rights of common folk by throwing Communist Party cells out of public agencies."

THIS ELECTION DAY, we are a house divided, and I am not speaking metaphorically of the United States. I am talking about my house, home to two Republican men and a couple of Democratic women. We haven't had a pleasant meal together since the conventions this past summer, and if we don't have a clear winner tomorrow morning, I may have to cancel Thanksgiving and go duck hunting with Justice Scalia. My husband is basically a mild-mannered guy, but he has been a rabid Republican since Bill Clinton.