Political notes: Kratovil narrows funding gap with Harris | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Campaign fundraising reports recently filed with the Federal Election Committee for the 1st Congressional District race show Democratic nominee Frank Kratovil finished the second quarter behind state Sen. Andy Harris in money raised, but is narrowing the gap. After the first quarter, Mr. Harris' lead was much wider.

Mr. Kratovil, who is the Queen Anne's County state's attorney, raised $375,985 between April 1 and June 30 and closed the period with $454,027 cash on hand. Mr. Harris, of Baltimore County, raised $531,550 for the quarter and closed the quarter with $609,000 cash on hand. Mr. Harris' total includes a loan of $100,000 to himself on the final day of the quarter.

Mr. Harris defeated nine-term incumbent Republican Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in the February primary. Though the district has been in GOP hands since 1991, many Democrats are hoping they can pick up the seat this fall and have signaled they'll ramp up fundraising efforts for Mr. Kratovil.

Lost in translation

This one may get lost in the Pentagon mailroom.

In an effort to help clean environmental hazards at Fort George G. Meade, County Executive John R. Leopold wrote a letter to the secretary of defense, signing his name and presumably sealing the envelope and licking the stamp himself before sending the note to "Dr. William M. Gates."

Who's that?

The mailman is probably asking the same question, walking five-pointed laps around the E Ring of the Pentagon, wondering which mail slot should receive the letter because, after all, it should have really been addressed to Dr. Robert M. (as in Michael) Gates, the real secretary of defense.

"We have a well-trained team in the Secretary's Office, and they will ensure the correspondence gets to the right place," a Department of Defense spokesman said in an e-mail.

But it was someone in the county executive's office that actually penned the missive, Mr. Leopold said.

"I should get after my staff on that. But of course I signed it. I should have checked it over," Mr. Leopold said, shortly after he called Dr. Gates "William" again in a phone interview.

County Attorney Jonathan A. Hodgson would later stand up and admit he hastily wrote the letter and didn't give it the proper edit it should have received. It's atypical for him, he said.

"That's my fault, I prepared it completely," Mr. Hodgson said, with the county executive within earshot.

"Listen, I got an 'F' in spelling," Mr. Hodgson said.

Thank goodness we never make any mistakes like that here at the Maryland Gazette.

Republican convention

The Maryland delegation to the Republican National Convention announced the chairmen and committee assignments for the four standing committees that will conduct party business from Aug. 25-29 in Minneapolis prior to the convention in St. Paul, Minn., which begins Sept. 1.

Leading the delegation as chairman will be Don Murphy, a former state delegate and Baltimore County party chairman from 2003-2004.

Everett Alvarez Jr., who served in the Navy with Sen. John McCain, and was one of the first Americans captured by the North Vietnamese, will be the delegation's honorary chairman.

Maryland General Assembly House Minority Leader Tony O'Donnell and former House member Carmen Amedori will serve on the Platform Committee.

National committee member Joyce Terhes and the Maryland GOP's First Vice Chairman Chris Cavey will serve on the Credentials Committee. National committee member Louis Pope and the GOP's 2006 nominee for state comptroller Anne McCarthy will serve on the Rules Committee.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold will serve on the Committee on Permanente Organization.

Calling all judges

The Maryland State Board of Elections is recruiting election judges for the 2008 vote to be held Nov. 4. Election judges are responsible for administering voting procedures in their precinct and ensuring a fair and accessible election for all eligible voters, state officials said. Judges are paid and may serve in any county regardless of residency or registration.

The judge's duties and responsibilities include verifying a voter's name, address, month and date of birth, coding the voter-access cards that allow the voters to access the ballot on the voting system, setting up and taking down the voting units, and completing election-night procedures. Maryland law permits 17-year-olds who are not registered voters to serve as election judges if he or she demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the local board of elections, the ability to speak, read and write English. Bilingual election judges are also needed, including those fluent in American sign language.

For more information about becoming an election judge, contact info@elections.state.md.us or call Mary Heath at 410-269-2854.

West County GOP

The West County Republican Club is holding a dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kaufmann's Restaurant, 329 Gambrills Road, Gambrills.

Speakers include David Hays from John McCain's presidential campaign and Thomas Pinkstone Harris, a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District. Members and their guests are invited. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

For more information and reservations, contact Jean Sunday at SundayofOdenton@verizon.net or at 410-672-3680.

Elephant Club

County Council Chairman Cathy Vitale, R-Severna Park, is scheduled to speak at the Elephant Club breakfast meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 400 Benfield Road, Severna Park. Cost is $4.

For information, visit www.elephantclub.us or call 410-437-2213.

Compiled by staff writers Barbara McLaughlin and Erin Cox from staff and wire reports.