Redmer

Alfred W. Redmer Jr., the former Republican state delegate and insurance commissioner, announced Wednesday his return to politics with a run for the Maryland Senate. Redmer's entry into the race escalates early campaigning in Baltimore County for the seat that's expected to be vacated by Republican Andrew P. Harris, who plans to run for Congress a second time. Republican Del. J.B. Jennings has filed papers to become a candidate. Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a Democrat, also is considering entering the race and recently put his Reisterstown home on the market to move to Cockeysville and establish residency in the 7th District, which includes sections of Baltimore and Harford counties.

Redmer Insurance Group has named Bel Air native Kelly Mee as manager of commercial lines insurance. Mee, a Baldwin resident who is a licensed insurance agent, brings 22 years of experience in administrative, personnel and financial settings. At Redmer Insurance Group, she will oversee the sale of commercial lines insurance throughout the mid-Atlantic region. She most recently served as account executive in the arts insurance department at Maury Donnelly & Parr Inc., an insurance agency and broker headquartered in Baltimore.

Maryland's House Republicans re-elected Del. Alfred W. Redmer Jr. as minority leader yesterday and selected Del. Kenneth D. Schisler as their new minority whip. Redmer, who represents the Parkville area of Baltimore County, was first elected minority leader last year. Democrats will have a 55-seat majority in the House of Delegates when it convenes in January, but the GOP caucus will include eight more members than it did last session and will be working closely with Republican Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. "We are going to be able to demonstrate to Maryland citizens that we as a party collectively have the ability to govern and lead," said Redmer, a delegate since 1991.

Redmer Insurance Group has named Kingsville resident Caesar Rossilli personal lines manager. Rossilli is a 17-year veteran of the insurance industry. At Redmer Insurance Group, he oversees the sale of personal lines insurance including auto, home, life, umbrella, recreational vehicles and boat policies. Prior to joining Redmer Insurance Group, Rossilli served as regional insurance manager for Long & Foster Insurance Agency. Earlier, he held the positions of financial service representative and sales manager at MetLife and sales representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

Maryland's insurance commissioner rejected a plan yesterday that would have allowed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware a looser affiliation with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, saying he was concerned the plan could hurt CareFirst and its Maryland subscribers. The decision by Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. could lead to the Delaware plan splitting from CareFirst altogether - which Redmer said he wasn't opposed to, as long as CareFirst receives fair compensation - or to another attempt to fashion a relationship that regulators will approve.

In an escalation of a business dispute that includes charges a state lawmaker may have unethically traded on his elected position, a Hunt Valley insurance brokerage yesterday sued Del. Alfred W. Redmer Jr.The suit in Baltimore County District Court comes in a business divorce between Client First Brokerage Services Inc. andRedmer, the company's chief executive officer until last year. The suit demands that Redmer surrender company-owned computer equipment and files.Client First officials said yesterday that they requested, and received, Redmer's resignation last year amid claims that he had acted against the interests of the company and its clients.

A state delegate caught in a bitter business divorce with a Hunt Valley insurance brokerage was ordered yesterday to surrender records printed from the company's computer system.The order came as the dispute between Del. Alfred W. Redmer Jr. and Client First Brokerage Services Inc. -- a clash including charges that the Perry Hall Republican might have unethically traded on his elected position -- moved for the first time into a courtroom.The dispute began last year when Redmer, a founding member and stockholder of Client First, left the brokerage.

Maryland's insurance commissioner said yesterday that his staff deserves an apology from Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., who suggested Tuesday that the state wasn't doing enough to resolve insurance coverage complaints by victims of Tropical Storm Isabel. Flanked by more than 50 Insurance Administration employees at a news conference, Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. gave an 18-minute description of the efforts his staff has made on behalf of Isabel victims. He said his staff has worked nonstop to resolve insurance problems in the wake of the storm and considers the executive's complaints "absolutely outrageous."

State Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr., who came to office with a mandate to increase competition in Maryland's insurance industry, has resigned his post to head a Delaware health maintenance organization. The former Republican delegate and insurance broker from Perry Hall was admired by industry officials, but his two years in office were marked by several disputes. He eventually won over those who criticized his response to complaints stemming from Tropical Storm Isabel, but he was rebuked by Democrats for his political activity and for his decision to let HMOs pass along a tax increase to their customers.

More than 60 Tropical Storm Isabel victims gathered on flood-ravaged Millers Island yesterday to ask the Maryland Senate to delay confirming the state insurance commissioner until he takes more aggressive action against flood insurance providers. The Senate's Executive Nominations Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for the commissioner, Alfred W. Redmer Jr., today. Most gubernatorial appointees are confirmed without incident, but Redmer's hearing comes less than a week after his predecessor, Steven B. Larsen, released a report saying the insurance commissioner can and should take aggressive action to make sure companies that sell flood insurance settle claims fairly.

Jocelyn "Jo" Redmer, a former bookkeeper and volunteer, died Friday of complications from pneumonia at Franklin Square Hospital Center. The White Marsh resident was 87. Born Jocelyn Kennard in Baltimore and raised at Tinges Lane and 33rd Street in Waverly, she was a 1941 graduate of Eastern High School. As a young woman, she worked at a downtown Oriole Cafeteria and was a bookkeeper for the A&P supermarket chain. There she met her future husband, Alfred "Al" Redmer. Mrs. Redmer enjoyed horseback riding and kept a horse for many years in Waverly.

Two well-known Republicans are locked in a tight race for a shot at the open state Senate seat in the conservative-leaning 7th District. Both have State House experience and close ties to former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., though Ehrlich is favoring one over the over. Del J.B Jennings got the nod from Ehrlich over former delegate and state Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr., as the two face off for a chance to succeed state Sen. Andrew P. Harris, who is running for Congress.

Alfred W. Redmer Jr., the former Republican state delegate and insurance commissioner, announced Wednesday his return to politics with a run for the Maryland Senate. Redmer's entry into the race escalates early campaigning in Baltimore County for the seat that's expected to be vacated by Republican Andrew P. Harris, who plans to run for Congress a second time. Republican Del. J.B. Jennings has filed papers to become a candidate. Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a Democrat, also is considering entering the race and recently put his Reisterstown home on the market to move to Cockeysville and establish residency in the 7th District, which includes sections of Baltimore and Harford counties.

Politicians and ethics always seem to be at odds, but in Maryland they're downright irreconcilable. How else to describe the various shenanigans uncovered lately, from Baltimore's City Council to the University of Maryland's Board of Regents? The latest indiscretion involves the Maryland Insurance Administration and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, who together found a way to simultaneously reward Mr. Steele's supporters and ignore many worthy African-American charities. Even by Maryland political standards, this is an impressive level of folly.

On February 23, 2006 NANCY LAWTON (nee Redmer) beloved wife of David N. Clingan and the late William C. Lawton; beloved mother of Linda L. Evans (Jeff) and the late Katherine D. Lawton Cousins; mother-in-law of John Cousins. Also survived by seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; predeceased by brother Henry Frank Redmer, Jr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Catholic Church, 43 Monroe Street, Westminster on Monday at 11 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

R. Steven Orr, an information technology executive, was named by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday to become state insurance commissioner to complete the term vacated by Alfred W. Redmer last fall. Orr, 53, will fill the remainder of a four-year term that began in June 2003. The recess appointment is subject to approval by the Maryland Senate during the 2006 legislative session that begins next week. A relative unknown in local insurance circles, Orr was until Wednesday chief information officer for Universal Underwriters Group, an Overland Park, Kan., firm that sells insurance to auto dealerships and other auto service providers.