Republican Norman Cochran may have missed an opportunity to receive an endorsement that has the power to propel him into the seat of Harford County Sheriff.
The Harford County Deputy Sheriff?s Union held a meeting Tuesday night, and three candidates for sheriff were invited to speak. Given the Republican side of the ticket had not been decided as of Tuesday ? Cochran was named as the Republican nominee Wednesday ? Cochran and Joe Price were invited, in addition to Democratic nominee Jesse Bane, according to union vice president Don Gividen. Gividen said Cochran did not show up.
“On Tuesday at about noon, Mr. Cochran called [Deputy Union] President [Fred] Visnaw and informed [Visnaw] that his employment duties required him to be in Annapolis, and he would be unable to attend the meeting,” Gividen said Friday.
Gividen said he could not speak for the approximately 250 members of the deputy?s union, but for “some members, it is a concern to them. They feel there is the potential that [if elected, Cochran] may not recognize the union.”
Cochran did not return phone calls before press time.
“From comments I heard in passing and by reading body language, I gathered they were not pleased that he was not there,” Bane said of how union members conducted themselves in Cochran?s absence.
“I could tell there was a sense of frustration,” Price agreed.
Both Bane and Price said they had to re-arrange their schedules to attend the union meeting, but they felt the meeting was too important to miss.
“In my own personal opinion, the [endorsement] of the union can sink your ship or float your boat,” Bane said. Many Harford residents wait to see who the union endorses, and vote accordingly, Bane said. “I would be concerned for my campaign if I wasn?t there,” he said.
Gividen said the union sent out secure ballots Thursday to each member, and after those ballots are returned and counted, the union will endorse either Bane or Cochran, based who received the most votes. He expects the union to announce its endorsement this approaching Thursday.
