County Council Member Veronica “Roni” Chenowith has promised that she will run for re-election in September despite her recently publicized battle with leukemia.
In an announcement sent out Friday by her husband and friends while she underwent treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Chenowith declared her intention to continue serving as District B?s councilwoman and run for re-election.
“I?ve never backed down from a fight, and I?m sure not going to back down from this one,” Chenowith said in her statement. “I definitely want to continue my work for another term.”
She was diagnosed with leukemia in March.
Chenowith faces Republican Kevin Kane, a spokesman for state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, in the Sept. 12 primary. Democrat Valerie Twanmoh has also declared her candidacy for the seat.
Kane had criticized those “scheming” to take over District C Council Member Robert Cassilly?s seat when he was deployed to Iraq with the Army Reserve, but said his own plans to run were in place long before he knew of Chenowith?s illness. He said his campaign would not change or take advantage of her announcement.
“Politics has no place in times such as this,” he said. “I had plans to run last year, and I?m already on the ballot.”
Chenowith said she expects to be released from the hospital some time next week. The council is planning to make its changes to the suggested budget Monday.
“Her intention is to get out of the hospital and back there [to the council] as soon as possible,” said Chris Garrigan, a friend of Chenowith?s and her informal spokeswoman.
In between her initial rounds of chemotherapy, Chenowith has been talking to her constituents on the phone from her hospital bed, Garrigan said. Her husband has represented her at ceremonial events.
How to help
Instead of flowers, Chenowith asked that well-wishers send donations to the Cal Ripken Senior Cancer Support Fund, which provides grants to Harford County citizens undergoing treatment for cancer. Donations can be mailed to the Harford County Department of Community Services at 319 S. Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014; care of Carolyn Lambdin.
