Maryland General Assembly

Harford County Executive David Craig (R) was an early supporter of incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) in his 2008 campaign for re-nomination.

"Wayne and I are close friends," Craig explained to PolitickerMD.com. "We've known each other since 1990."

Since losing to state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in February's GOP primary, Gilchrest, a moderate, has been highly critical of the more conservative Harris, indicating that he will not support Harris' candidacy in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

Craig, however, has made his support for Harris clear.

When Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) ran for a position in the state General Assembly in 2006 he faced challenges that most politicians do not face.

"Some people said to me ‘you have a funny name' and ‘you are a Muslim,'" Ali told PolitickerMD.com.  "They said just go home. Don't run."

Ali, who is of Pakistani and Indian descent, even had to deal with a protester who sat outside his home one-day in the summer of 2006 carrying a sign and shouting derogatory comments about Ali's religion.

Ron Miller (R-Huntingtown), who challenged Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) in the 27th Legislative District in 2006, told PolitickerMD.com Monday that he has not decided if he will seek a rematch in 2010, one-week after the nine-term incumbent Democrat announced his plans to seek re-election.  

"There are many factors that will determine whether or not I will run for office again in 2010, but Senator Miller's decision to seek a tenth term is not one of them," Ron Miller said.

The Republican, who lost to the Senate president by 41 points two years ago, serves as managing director for the Ambit Group, LLC, a technology and management consulting firm located in Reston, Virginia.

Justin Ready, the executive director of the Maryland Republican Party, told PolitickerMD.com today that the controversy surrounding Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) is a "personal matter between Sen. Brinkley and his family and that's all we are going to say about it."

"At this point we wish Sen. Brinkley and his family the best as they deal with a personal situation," Ready said.

Details of the May 30 domestic disturbance at Brinkley's home emerged over the weekend through a police report obtained by reporter Meg Bernhardt of the Frederick-News Post, where Brinkley is referred to as "the victim in this incident."

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) was among those in attendance at a fundraiser for Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) at the home of family friends in Potomac, Saturday.

"It is a campaign event for my re-election," Ali told PolitickerMD.com over the weekend.

The 33-year-old legislator, who represents District 39 in Montgomery County, is thought to be considering a run for higher office in the future, but pledged that he would "run for delegate" in 2010.

Senate Majority Whip Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore) told PolitickerMD.com Thursday that she "suspected" Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) "would seek re-election for quite a while"

"I think it was a long time coming," Gladden said of Miller's Wednesday announcement that he would run in 2010.

Senate Majority Whip Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore) said Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) exercised "an incredible amount of bad judgment" for allegedly failing to report to the State Ethics Commission that he had done consulting work for the Lanham-based company Shoppers Food and Pharmacy.

"The problem is--where there's smoke there's probably fire," Gladden told PolitickerMD.com Thursday.

Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda) told PolitickerMD.com today that he is "still planning to succeed" Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) as president of the Maryland State Senate, one-day after Miller announced that he would seek re-election in 2010.

"He's a good guy and I think he helps the Democrats," Frosh said. "I'm supporting him for re-election."

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) described embattled Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) as "a very dear friend" during his press conference in Annapolis yesterday, saying Currie is an example of "history living."

Discussing the FBI raid on Currie's home last week, Miller said, "As I hear more-I think this is lessening."

ANNAPOLIS-- Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach), the longest serving president in the state's history, announced that he will seek re-election in 2010 during a press conference in Annapolis, this afternoon.

Fighting back tears, the Senate president said, "I am indicating today that if the people have me I will run for state legislator in the 27th District."