GOP Central Committee Race Draws Candidates

When Frederick County residents go to the polls on June 24th to vote in the primary election, their picks for the Governor and the new County Executive may be secure, but there may be some unexpected contests.  Before you schedule time to vote, be aware that Maryland's primaries are "closed" to residents not in the two major parties.  Only registered Democrats or registered Republicans can vote in their Party’s primary.  Probably the largest field of candidates in a race, in Frederick County, is the 23 individuals running for nine seats of the Republican Central Committee.

Some may ask, "What is the Republican Central Committee?"  The simplest answer is that it is the party leadership within the county. These nine members are elected every four years during the gubernatorial primary.  The website for the current Central Committee is:

http://www.frederickgop.org/mission/frederick-county-republican-central-committee

GOP Central Committee members work to get Republicans elected, host fundraisers, register voters, put on workshops for potential candidates, meet twice a year with the state party to vote on leadership, bylaws, and select delegates to the National convention during presidential years. But the most important official duty and responsibility of the Central Committee is to appoint persons to fill vacancies (that may occur between elections) for offices currently held by Republicans.  Therefore it is important to elect committee members who represent your party leanings. Perhaps you are socially conservative, pro-business, a strong liberty advocate, interested in party over principle or principle over party, etc.  Some of the candidates completed the League of Women Voters survey, and their answers can be viewed on this web site:

http://onyourballot.vote411.org/race-detail.do?id=12046958&party=Rep#.U3Jy3i-0x3I

One obvious difference amongst the candidates is their opinion on whether to change the closed primary system, to allow the third largest group of Maryland voters, the Unaffiliateds, to possibly vote in the primary.

The official list of this year’s candidates from the Frederick County Board of Elections can be found starting on page 15:

http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/documents/254/7936/Candidate%20List%202014%20Apr24_201404240941557579.pdf

Seven of the nine current members are seeking re-election.  There are also nine candidates who have filed to run together as a slate called: “Republicans for Frederick County Slate”.

http://www.facebook.com/RepublicansForFrederickCounty

Their slogan is, “Party Unity through Constitutional Principles!”   This slate contains three current committee members (the current Central Committee Treasurer: Jason Laird, a current candidate for State Delegate: Darren Wigfield, and Committeeman Benjamin Reddington), one current Auxiliary member, Joel Lea-Wilson, and Emmitsburg’s resident dentist, Dr. Mike Hargadon.

Before you go to the polls, take time to do some research on who is running and determine how you want your party to move forward.  Do you want county committee men and women who will question directives from national and the state, or should they rubber stamp descending policies?  Should the Party grow by allowing some of the unaffiliated voters a say in the Party’s direction?  Think about who you want to lead the Republican Party in Frederick County, and then, Vote!

 

M. T. Hargadon