On the campaign trail

Potential Congressional candidate picks up endorsements

State Sen. Robert J. Garagiola hasn’t committed yet to running for the 6th District Congress seat, yet on Monday, his campaign released a list of 17 Democratic state senators and delegates endorsing him, including two in the Washington County delegation.

Monday’s news release says Garagiola, the Senate majority leader, “is seriously considering a run for Congress in the Sixth Congressional District.”

Last week, the Maryland General Assembly approved new congressional boundaries for the state. The plan makes the 6th District seat, now held by 10-term Republican incumbent Roscoe G. Bartlett, more obtainable for Democrats.

Garagiola, who already has filed a “Garagiola for Congress” committee with the Federal Election Commission, is expected to make a formal announcement soon.

Bartlett has filed to run for an 11th term next year. Four other Republicans also have filed.

Former Montgomery County Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg is the only Democrat to publicly commit to running.

Sen. Ronald C. Young, D-Frederick/Washington, is one of the four state senators listed as endorsing Garagiola on Monday’s news release. Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, is one of the 13 delegates on the endorsement list.

State Sen. Christopher B. Shank campaigning for Perry

Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential campaign has picked state Sen. Christopher B. Shank as part of its Maryland leadership team.

Shank, R-Washington, will be a state campaign co-chair, along with Del. Justin D. Ready, R-Carroll, and Lawrence Scott, a political consultant.

In a news release, Perry said, “I am looking forward to expanding our campaign operation into Maryland and I am proud to have the support of these key individuals.”

Shank said Friday that he considers Perry the best Republican in the presidential field for cutting taxes and regulation.

However, Shank and Perry disagree on giving in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants — Perry is in favor, Shank is opposed.

Shank said he “vigorously” opposes granting in-state tuition, but he considers Perry otherwise “very aggressive” on illegal immigration.

“That’s just a policy difference,” Shank said, adding that Maryland and Texas are very different states.


Shank’s support for Perry puts him in a different camp than former Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, who, it was announced last week, is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s Maryland campaign chairman.

A similar split existed in the 2008 presidential race, when Shank was a Maryland campaign co-chair for Mike Huckabee and Ehrlich backed Rudolph Giuliani.

— Andrew Schotz

“On The Campaign Trail” will run periodically. Send campaign news and tips to Andrew Schotz at andrews@herald-mail.com.