The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • A2

THE BALTIMORE SUN NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 Several show interest in Pugh's seat Nick Mosby Antonio Hayes Delegates, others want to be considered to succeed mayoral nominee in Senate By Michael Dresser and Yvonne Wenger The Baltimore Sun Two state delegates and one former lawmaker said Wednesday they would like to be considered to replace Democratic mayoral nominee Catherine E. Pugh in the Maryland Senate if she is elected in November. Pugh, the winner of Tuesday's primary, has represented the 40th District in the Senate since 2007. She is considered all but certain to win the general election because of her party's overwhelming registration advantage over Republicans in the city. Dels.

Barbara A. Robinson and Antonio Hayes, who represent Pugh's district, told The Baltimore Sun they expect to seek the position So did former Del. Shawn Tarrant, who represented the district until his narrow primary defeat in 2014. Possibly waiting in the wings is Councilman Nick J. Mosby, who dropped out of the mayoral primary and threw his support behind Pugh.

Though political insiders expect him to seek the seat, he declined to say if he is interested. "I haven't had an opportunity to evaluate that," Mosby said. "My focus, the reason I got out of the race, has been to ensure we are able to put the best foot forward to build a better Baltimore. I knew Senator Pugh would be the one who would be able to unite the city." carry weight with the committee. But Fisher said a mayoral recommendation isn't a guarantee.

"She can recommend, but it won't necessarily be a slam-dunk," she said. Tarrant, who said he's "absolutely interested" in retiming to Annapolis, noted that any incoming mayor can exert influence over committee members. "The mayor would have that option because they're hiring people," he said. Mosby said he has not reached out to anyone on the committee, nor has he sought support for an appointment He said he was "flattered" that his name has been mentioned. Hayes said he hasn't talked to central committee members about the seat but is "definitely interested in it" While Hayes amassed more votes than his two veteran colleagues in the 2014 Democratic primary, he endorsed Pugh's rival, former Mayor Sheila Dixon, in the mayor's race.

Robinson, who has served in the House since 2007, said she would "most definitely'' be interested in the seat but considered the matter "too soon to discuss." The third delegate from that district, Frank Conaway could not be reached for comment Assuming Pugh wins in November, the process would begin when she resigns to move to City Hall in December. Typically the party solicits resumes, and the central committee interviews applicants before making a decision mdresserbaltsun.com ywengerbaltsun.com twitter.com michaeltdresser twitter.comyvonnewenger Barbara Robinson Shawn Tarrant The seat is one of two that is likely to need a new senator next year as a result of the primary. Montgomery County Sen Jamie Rasldn, who won the Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District, will have the advantage in the general election in the Democratic stronghold. State Democratic leaders generally stay out of the process while hoping the district committees choose an up-and-comer who can hold the seat a long time and build the party's bench strength. State Senate President Thomas Mike Miller declined through a spokesman to discuss the 40th District seat Central committee members are generally little-known officials who nevertheless are party insiders.

If an unpaid committee member can win the support of enough colleagues, he or she can be appointed to a part-time job as a Maryland state legislator. One of the 40th District committee members, Arlene Fisher, said that while she would not seek the Senate seat, she might be interested in serving in the House if one of the district's delegates were chosen Political observers agree that if Pugh advocates for a successor, her views would Mosby said he has been concentrating on supporting Pugh and serving as a city councilman, a position he holds until December. Pugh said Wednesday she would not attempt to dictate the selection of her replacement She noted that the choice will be made by the Democratic State Central Committee for the 40th District "Those who are seeking that position should lobby that State Central Committee," Pugh said, adding that members of the seven-member panel "have already begun counting their votes" for potential replacements. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan will formally make the appointment, but he is constitutionally bound to honor the choice of the central committee.

He can request that the committee send him another name, but can't substitute his own choice. At stake is one of Baltimore's six seats in the 47-member Senate. One, the 44th District, is shared with Baltimore County, but Pugh's is entirely within the city lines, sprawling from Park Heights in Northwest Baltimore to Violetville and Morrell Park in the southwest. Out of the ashes, a rebirth KIM HAIRSTONBALTIMORE SUN People document the grand opening of the Mary Harvin Senior Center, with the Woda Group and the Southern Baptist Church hosting the event. One year ago, the project was 45 percent complete when the building was burned down during rioting.

ELECTION 2016 2 ousted in Howard school board race Challengers accused members of being too deferential to Foose By Lisa Philip Baltimore Sun Media Group Two members of the Howard County Board of Education have failed in their bids for re-election as voters sought change on a panel that some critics have called a rubber stamp for Superintendent Renee Foose. Board members Janet Siddiqui, Ellen Flynn Giles and Ann De Lacy faced eight challengers in Tuesday's primary for three seats on the nonpartisan board. The top six advance to the general election in November. Siddiqui came in fourth in the voting, but DeLacy and Giles finished out of contention at eighth and ninth. Parents, teachers and some state legislators have said board members and Foose have been unresponsive to community input and requests for public information.

The incumbents had rejected the criticism. Challengers Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small and Mavis Ellis all of whom were endorsed by the county teachers union over the incumbents were the top finishers in the race by a wide margin. Coombs and Delmont-Small have been PTA activists, and Ellis is a member of the National Education Association and the Maryland State Education Association. Following Siddiqui in fourth place, challengers Vicky Cutroneo, a PTA parent and youth sports coach, and Robert Miller, director of the Columbia Big Band and a former youth music camp director, rounded out the six who will advance. Giles has served on the board since 2004, and DeLacy since 2012.

Some said the complaints about transparency and responsiveness drew new attention to the election. "I moved to Howard County in 1982 and I have never, ever before been in the grocery line and heard people behind me talking about the Board of Education race," said Teri Dennison, treasurer for the Howard County Educators Association. "And they were people who wouldn't normally be interested." Vote totals from the election came slowly. Howard County Board of Elections Director Guy Mickley said a webpage for live results from the county crashed around midnight and was not updating precinct counts properly. "I have never, ever before been in the grocery line and heard people behind me talking about the Board of Education race." Teri Dennison, Howard County Education Association 3 new commissioners named to Baltimore's liquor board "Our goal I think, is to move the docket on a regular basis expeditiously and do it fairly and Albert Matricciani former judge, Court of Special Appeals when awarding liquor licenses.

'We recognize that like many things there tends to be a tension between interests, and our job is to balance those interests and do our best to regulate and follow the law and do what's in the best interest of the community," Greenfield, a principal at Greenfield Kress PA, said in an interview. Becky Lundberg Witt, an attorney at the nonprofit Community Law Center who has kept a watchful eye on the liquor board's evolution, said she wants to see the board apply the law fairly to liquor licensees. "They seem to have pretty impressive legal backgrounds, which is really great," she said. "All I want is a board where the commissioners are prepared, they know what the law says better than anyone else, and they run a hearing well and they apply the law in a fair and consistent way." At the same time the board's commissioners failed to get approval, its executive secretary, Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth, left the agency. Rawlings-Blake said if Bailey-Hedgepeth is interested in returning to the board, she is confident the new members will "take a serious look at her." The board's weekly hearings could resume as early as today, Rawlings-Blake said.

Seven hearings to protest contested liquor licenses, originally scheduled for April 21, were put on hold definitely as the board awaited new appointments. Baltimore residents are protesting the renewal of licenses for Half Mile Track, Club 347, The Drinkery, Stadium Lounge, A-One Convenience Store, Four G's Liquor Lounge and WC. Harlan. Baltimore Sun reporter Yvonne Wenger contributed to this article. smeehanbaltsun.com twitter.comsarahvmeehan By Sarah Meehan The Baltimore Sun Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and City Council President Bernard C.

"Jack" Young have appointed three new commissioners to the Baltimore liquor board. The appointees are former Court of Special Appeals Judge Albert Matricciani attorney Dana P. Moore, a previous liquor board commissioner; and attorney Aaron Greenfield. An alternate member will be nominated soon, according to Howard Libit, a spokesman for Rawlings-Blake. Matricciani will chair the Board of Liquor License Commissioners, which has been vacant since last month, when the Maryland Senate Executive Nominations Committee did not confirm the previous four members, appointed by Gov.

Larry Hogan The new members were sworn in Wednesday. Matricciani, Moore and Greenfield met for a briefing after they were sworn in to their new positions. "Our goal, I think, is to move the docket on a regular basis expeditiously and do it fairly and Matricciani, who serves as senior counsel at Whiteford, Taylor Preston LLP, said in an interview. He said he hopes to use his experience as a trial judge to give every party the chance to present its side and then apply the law fairly, even if that means making unpopular decisions. Of the three new appointees, only Moore has liquor board experience.

The founder of the law firm Petersen Moore LLC, she said she's honored to be reluming. 'Tm happy to be back, and I'm looking for a reset," said Moore, who served on the liquor board from 2014 to 2015, when she was replaced by Hogan's nominees. Moore had been a member of the city's Planning Commission, a role she resigned from Wednesday upon her appointment to the liquor board. She hopes to do abetter job of listening to the needs of liquor board staff, she said, adding she also wants to get to know more business owners and licensees who come before the liquor board. 'We can make decisions that really can determine in those small ways the possible direction of a community," Moore said.

"It's unique and it's exciting, and it feels weighty to me it feels like a big responsibility." Hogan appointed four commissioners last year: Chairman Benjamin Neil, Douglas Trotter, Elizabeth Hafey and alternate commissioner Harvey Jones. Neil, Trotter and Hafey's appointments were rejected by the state Senate Executive Nominations Committee last month, and Hogan withdrew Jones' nomination After Hogan's appointments fell through, the General Assembly passed a bill to transfer the power of liquor board appointments to the city and out of the governor's hands. Baltimore residents and community activists had criticized the previous board for being too business-friendly and failing to weigh the concerns of nearby residents.