Republican state senators Tuesday deadlocked after several ballots over close to nine hours in their efforts to choose a new leader to face the incoming O?Malley administration. But apparently they had no problem agreeing to name Howard County Sen. Allan Kittleman as the new minority whip.
The leader contest pitted Sen. David Brinkley, 47, a financial planner who represents parts of Carroll and Frederick counties, against current Minority Whip Andrew Harris, 49, an anesthesiologist who represents parts of Baltimore and Harford counties. Current Minority Leader Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus from Somerset County on the southern Eastern Shore chose not to seek re-election.
Harris was considered more socially conservative and confrontational.
“I can?t go into those details” about the vote, Kittleman said. “We?ve agreed to not talk about what we talked in the caucus.” But others who spoke to members of the caucus said there were a series of 7-7 votes. (Sen. Alex Mooney of Frederick County was voting by proxy.) The closed meeting started at 1:30 p.m., and Kittleman said he was at the Senate office building until 11 p.m.
“We?ll probably get together in a week or so” to try again to select a leader, Kittleman said, and there may well be another candidate emerge. “It will be nice to know who the leader is.” He declined to discuss what he might do as whip. “I want to wait to see who is the leader,” and take his guidance from him. “I?m good friends with both candidates.”
Kittleman served on the Howard County Council before he was appointed to fill the Senate seat of his late father, Robert Kittleman, who had also been minority leader and whip in the House of Delegates before his election to the Senate.
“I?ve enjoyed being an advocate for the Republican Party my whole life,” said Allan Kittleman, former chair of the GOP in Howard County.
The position is considered crucial in setting the tone for the party as it seeks to recoup its position after the defeat of Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
