Politics & Government

Dems Rally in Timonium Headquarters

High-profile politicians reach out to volunteers, County Executive Jim Smith looks ahead to after November

About a dozen volunteers were glued to their chairs making a bevy of phone calls, rallying support for Democrats who are up for election, the night before the primaries.

There were regulars and newcomers both young and old staffing the phone banks at the Baltimore County Coordinated Democratic Headquarters in Timonium, but that night was different.

Last Monday, the candidates that they've helped elect in recent years paid a visit to some of their more active constituents. Outgoing County Executive Jim Smith, Congressman John Sarbanes and Sen. Barbara Mikulski showed up to thank volunteers for their work.

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Mikulski and Sarbanes dominated in their respective primaries garnering 76.64 percent and 82.58 percent of the votes, respectively. But Smith, who was barred from running because of term limits, could only reflect on the past eight years and maybe look forward to some relaxation after the General Election in November.

"With all my enthusiasm, it's still a little bitter sweet," Smith said. "It's been really nice for people to say 'I wish you could run.' It's been a great eight years. It's been a great eight years for me personally and a great eight years for the county.

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"That's because of the teamwork we've been able to generate both within government and within the communities, both the residential and the business community. That's why we've made a difference and I think we have made a difference."

The office in Timonium opened in May as a hub for democratic support in the area. Fred Schutzman, 82, volunteers at the headquarters fairly regularly.

"I'm very much involved in politics and I always have been. I think it's very important as a citizen," said Schutzman, a Pikesville resident. "I worked very hard for our current president. We made many, many calls for him. We went all out and we continue to do so. I think as a citizen we have to participate."

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Lutherville-Timonium area played host to a number of high-ranking elected officials last week. Patch editor Nayana Davis wrote about a fundraiser featuring ex-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hosted Speaker of the House Nancy D'Alessandro Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in Lutherville at former politician and media mogul Ted Venetoulis's home. The DCCC fundraiser was a $1,000-plate dinner. No media were allowed into the event. 


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