Howard County judicial challenger David Titman would have been eliminated from the primary under normal circumstances, after losing in close races for both the Republican and Democratic Party nominations.
But the Ellicott City attorney has what amounts to a free pass into the general election ? the Libertarian Party?s nomination.
Sitting Howard Circuit Court Judges Louis Becker and Richard Bernhardt won the Republican and Democratic primaries based on the unofficial vote by the Howard County Board of Elections
Usually, in judicial elections, such victories would have secured Becker and Bernhardt their seats.
Betty Adams, chairwoman of the sitting judges? campaign, said Titman?s ability to run in the general election despite losing in the Republican and Democratic primaries is an “anomaly” of Maryland?s election system. “I think it?s an anomaly of the system that needs to be worked on,” she said.
But Titman said the system is fair, because it allows independent and third-party voters, along with Republicans and Democrats, to decide who will sit on the county bench.
In another courthouse race, the Democratic Party nominee for Howard County sheriff was still too close to call Thursday.
Challenger James Fitzgerald led with 11,100 voters, or 52.4 percent, over Sheriff Charles Cave, who has 10,074 votes, or 47.6 percent.
Once the absentee and provisional ballots are counted, the winner will face Republican Tim Galt in the November general election.
Primary election
Republican
» Louis Becker: 34.9 percent
» Richard Bernhardt: 35.2 percent
» David Titman: 29.9 percent
Democrat
» Louis Becker: 36.1 percent
» Richard Bernhardt: 33.5 percent
» David Titman: 30.4 percent
Source: Howard County Board of Elections
