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State Sen. David Brinkley believes it’s time for U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett to pass the baton to another Republican.
The Frederick County businessman launched his campaign Wednesday for the 6th Congressional District seat that Bartlett has held for 10 terms.
Brinkley said he’s a conservative who can keep the Western Maryland seat in Republican hands despite an attempt by the Democratic majority in Annapolis to oust the 85-year-old incumbent through redistricting.
Bartlett has filed for re-election to an 11th term. Four other Republicans are also in the race.
Brinkley said he stands for fiscal responsibility and job creation.
The 52-year-old financial planner is in his third term in the state Senate after two terms in the House of Delegates. He served as Senate minority leader in 2007 and 2008.
Besides Bartlett, the Republicans who have filed to run include Robin Ficker, Joseph T. Krysztoforski, Brandon Orman Rippeon and Robert Coblentz.
Former Republican state Sen. Alex X. Mooney has formed an exploratory committee, and Bartlett's former chief of staff, Bud Otis, also has expressed interest if Bartlett doesn't run.
Brinkley’s announcement came the same day that Democrat Duchy Trachtenberg dropped out of the race due to health reasons.
Trachtenberg announced Wednesday that she is withdrawing because of a recurrence of breast cancer.
The former Montgomery County councilwoman issued a statement saying she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer last year. She said when she decided to campaign she had a clean bill of health, but must now focus on treatment and recovery.
Entrepreneur John Delaney also filed Wednesday to run as a Democrat for the seat.
Delaney said that he believes his work starting two businesses has given him ample experience to understand how to create jobs.
Delaney, a 48-year-old Potomac resident, is the co-founder and chairman of CapitalSource Inc., a commercial lender. He also founded HealthCare Financial Partners, Inc., which provides financing to health care service companies. HealthCare Financial was founded in 1993 and sold to Heller Financial in 1999.
Montgomery County state Sen. Rob Garagiola also is running for the Democratic nomination for the seat, as is Dr. Milad L. Pooran.