David Brinkley

Maryland's Senate Republican Caucus re-organized its leadership on Tuesday.

State Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) got bumped up from minority whip to minority leader and state Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R) will reside as the caucuses new minority whip.

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for August 22, 2008. CLICK HERE.

One GOPer thinks the race to succeed state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley is already decided.

Stay tuned: David BrinkleyState Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (R-New Market) has announced he will step down from his leadership post, possibly as soon as next month, when Senate Republicans are set to re-organize.

"When it comes time for election, I'll let someone else take it over," Brinkley told the Baltimore Sun. "I've got plenty on my plate."

Brinkley's future as a leader in Annapolis was called into question in June, when a domestic disturbance at his home and his chief of staff's temporary leave caused uneasines in a GOP caucus that prides itself on family values.

Senate Republicans might hold a re-organizing meeting as early as September. Minority Whip Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) and Nancy Jacobs (R-Edgewood/Abingdon) are considered top contenders for the job.

What do two flacks, two candidates for Congress, two regulators, three party leaders and a soon-to-be-ex House member all have in common?

Why, they're all in Maryland's Winners and Losers for June 13, 2008! | CLICK HERE

So Monday came and went, and none of those who were talking so cavalierly about giving Republican state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley the boot made their move. Not atypical of the political set.

One person heard that Brinkley might have given a statement to the Sun yesterday, but that turned out to be nothing. Nope. It's pretty clear he won't say anything for some time.

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."

Jacqui Nigh: In 2005Jacqui Nigh, the chief-of-staff to the state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) has taken a leave of absence, saying she wanted to give the senator and his wife “personal time.”

Today, the Frederick County Sheriff’s office confirmed to PolitickerMD.com that a domestic disturbance did occur at Brinkley’s home on May 30, but said further information was unavailable because there was no arrest or criminal charges filed. Brinkley acknowledged to the Frederick News Post that he and his wife are in counseling and “working on our marriage.”

In an interview, Nigh did not address whether she played a role in the disturbance.

“I’m not speaking to it at all,” she said when contacted by PolitickerMD.com.

State Republicans gathered for the 18th annual Red, White and Blue fundraiser last night in Linthicum, the party's major fundraiser for the year.

Justin Ready, the party's executive director, told PolitickerMD.com that roughly 400 people attended the event. He said the MDGOP expected to raise "close to $100,000" for the evening.

"This is a big improvement from last year," Ready said. "We're moving forward."

State Republicans and reporters are clueless as to what Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley is currently thinking.

They know there was a domestic disturbance. They believe there was another woman who served on his staff and financially benefited from his office -- and are almost certain of her identity. But they want to be sure, and Brinkley is not talking.