Maryland State Senate

Harford County Executive David Craig (R) was an early supporter of incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) in his 2008 campaign for re-election, but even with Gilchrest out of the race, Craig is still backing the Republican candidate. 

"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.

Ron MillerRon 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."

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.

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.

Questions Linger In GOP Ranks

In this morning's edition of the Frederick News-Post, reporter Meg Bernhardt confirms the occurrence of an apparent domestic disturbance late last week at the home of state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market).

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office confirmed that deputies responded to an incident at Brinkley's home and that no criminal charges were brought, but would not release any further details "except through a formal Public Information Act request."

Yesterday, rumors swirled in Annapolis that Brinkley was engaged in an extramarital affair leading to such an incident.

"We are working on our marriage," Brinkley told the paper. "We have been in counseling. We are very optimistic on the outcome and frankly reinvigorated. We thank everybody for their calls and prayers of support. Our family is making time to work through this."

Yet Brinkley's marital problems alone do not seem to be the issue casting dark shadows on his political future. Several state Republican leaders and insiders reached out to by PolitickerMD.com expressed that they are most worried that Brinkley's affair seems to have been with a member of his staff. The question of whether Brinkley improperly used the influence of his office to the staffer's benefit is the axis of his colleagues' concern.

The arrival of these details could very well determine whether Brinkley can hang on to power.

The Maryland Republican Party officially had no statement in regards to the allegations against Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) prior to the start of the party’s Red, White and Blue dinner at the BWI Hilton Hotel in Linthicum, tonight.

Officials for the party said they did not know enough to make a comment, while also saying that they did not expect Brinkley to attend the function.

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."

Word is that State Senate Minority Whip Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) is calling other members of the GOP caucus informing them that Minority Leader David Brinkley will relinquish his leadership position in order to work through his family problems.

The calls are a sign that Kittleman would likely become the new Minority Leader.