Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith could be out of commission for up to eight weeks following emergency triple bypass surgery Wednesday, officials said.
The 66-year-old Democrat and former judge is “resting comfortably” at St. Joseph Medical Center and a full recovery is expected, his spokesman said.
Smith suffered minor chest pain Tuesday morning and checked himself in to the Towson
hospital. Cardiac specialists
scheduled surgery Wednesday morning to correct arterial blockages.
“He was smart enough to recognize his symptoms,” said Dr. Stephen Pollack, chief cardiologist at St. Joseph. “That puts him way ahead of the game.”
Pollack said most open heart surgery patients remain in the hospital for five or six days and can return to full-time employment after eight weeks, some sooner.
The county charter designates the county administrative officer — Fred Homan — to fill in when the county executive is incapacitated, Smith spokesman Don Mohler said.
Homan, previously the county’s budget director, was named administrative officer in November 2006 and is a 30-year veteran of county government.
Smith, a gym rat, is in great physical shape and will be “back in charge” as soon as he can find a phone, Mohler jokingly said.
“Anyone that knows Jim Smith knows the answer as to who is in charge,” Mohler said.
“The challenge for his wife and family will be sitting on him so the county executive doesn’t do too much.”
Smith is also president of the Maryland Association of Counties and was expected to preside over its annual summer conference in Ocean City today.
The county released a statement on behalf of Smith’s family, thanking the community for its support and concern.
“Knowing my father, he will be running circles around the rest of us in a matter of weeks,” said Smith’s son, Michael Paul Smith.
