Every candidate listed on Jim Smith?s endorsement roster ? distributed to voters as they entered polling locations during Tuesday?s primary ? won in Baltimore County, reflecting the Democratic county executive?s influence over his constituency, his campaign said.
Between 700 and 1,000 Smith campaign volunteers manned each of the county?s 218 precincts Tuesday and distributed 29 versions of a palm card that reminded voters who Jim Smith wanted to win, campaign spokesman Sterling Clifford said.
And, at least in Baltimore County, they did.
“He’s a man of integrity and fair and a good judge of character,” Clifford said. “Those are things that lend to influence when people are deciding their own vote.”
Several of Smith?s statewide endorsements lost their primary but still carried significant victories in Baltimore County. District 3 Congressional candidate Paula Hollinger received 32 percent of the county?s votes, compared tooverall winner John Sarbanes? 25.7
percent. In the race for comptroller, incumbent William Donald Schaefer won the county with 38.9 percent of the vote, compared to overall winner Peter Franchot?s 26.3 percent.
Smith, who won his own primary with 77 percent of the county?s Democratic vote, endorsed all seven incumbent county council members, who each won their primaries with convincing margins. With no challengers from the opposite party, Republican Bryan McIntire of District 3 and the council?s only rookie member, Democrat Ken Oliver of District 4, secured additional terms.
Oliver said he was surprised Democratic challenger Penny McCrimmon, who received 40 percent of the district?s votes, came so close.
