Democrats celebrated gaining at least one Baltimore County seat in the state?s General Assembly following Tuesday?s election and absentee ballots could determine the fate of two other Republican incumbents in down-to-the-wire contests.
Absentee ballots will likely determine the successor of the unseated Republican incumbent Del. John Cluster in the state?s eighth district. Democratic incumbent Del. Eric Bromwell?s return is all but guaranteed, and newcomer Democrat Todd Schuler followed closely.
Only 47 votes separated Republican incumbent Del. Joe Boteler and newcomer Democrat Ruth Baisden. Victories from Baisden and Schuler would replace two Republicans and form an all-Democratic team for the split district.
“I think the Iraq war and federal issues have trickled down to the local races,” Baisden said. “People really want to see a change and they came out and made it known.”
In the state?s 42nd district, Democratic newcomer Tracy Miller lead Republican Del. William Frank by seven votes. Republican incumbent Susan Aumann and Democratic newcomer Stephen Lafferty led the race.
Frank said he?s “reasonably confident” absentee ballots ? estimated at 16,000 in Baltimore County ? represent mostly GOP votes, an assumption Miller appeared to share.
“I worry about it being so close because I think there are all sorts of opportunities for error here,” Miller said. “I?m hoping to know by Thanksgiving and that I have reasonto be thankful.”
Election officials said they will not begin to count absentee ballots until today. About 32,000 Baltimore County residents requested the ballots, and about half were returned, Cluster said.
The ousted Republican said he thinks the party?s promotion of absentee ballots backfired ? he speculated the volume of requests meant many voters never received their ballots.
He was among several delegates appointed by outgoing Gov. Robert Ehrlich who lost their seat Tuesday.
“It was a privilege to serve for three years,” Cluster said. “I enjoyed it, it was a great experience and I wouldn?t trade anything in the world for it.”
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 election coverage
