The Harford County Council will have one more incumbent in the 2006 elections, as District A Council Member Dion Guthrie has decided not to run for state Senate.
Top Democratic officials had courted Guthrie as a possible candidate for Harford?s District 34, which would have pitted him against incumbent Republican Nancy Jacobs. But after several polls of his constituents, Guthrie decided he would file for re-election to the council.
“I don?t have this ego telling me to go. ? I want to be where I can be most helpful to Harford County,” he said.
Guthrie had three polls conducted over the past month to gauge how he would do against Jacobs. He said two came out very favorably and the third was “average.”
His survey of District A, however, came back with about 60 percent of respondents asking him to stay on the council.
“Of course, my old saying is that ?people vote; polls don?t,? ” Guthrie said.
Guthrie will be one of four incumbents expected in the council race, and is unopposed in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary.
Two Republicans are competing for the council seat as well: Chris Biggs, director of legislative affairs for the state?s Department of Business and Economic Development, and Harford County Republican Women President Paula Mullis.
“I was hoping he?d take the shot for state Senate,” said Harford County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Michael Comeau. “We?d like to take back some of the Republican seats in the state Senate. ? We know they?re looking to take Democratic seats.”
But County Democrats suspected that Guthrie was leaning toward staying with the council, Comeau said. They are already looking to former Aberdeen Mayor Doug Wilson as another candidate forstate Senate. Wilson confirmed that he is considering it.
Though he will be the incumbent and got favorable poll results for his run for re-election, Guthrie said he would treat the campaign as though it were a close one.
