Politics & Government

Should They Stay or Should They Go?

What are voters' motivations this General Election?

Not everyone is voting against incumbents this year. Some Howard County residents are pleased with the way things are going, and they're using their vote to make a positive statement.

"It's hard in this election because of all of the anger people have," said Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, of Columbia.

"It's misdirected against incumbents, but in our area, incumbents are doing great work."

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Terborg-Penn was doing some last-minute campaigning outside of Howard High School.  She and Tanya Gray Ray, also of Columbia, both agreed, things weren't perfect, but that the entire country was in rough shape.

"Considering what we have to work with," Terborg-Penn said, "We're doing pretty well in Howard County."

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Ray agreed, saying that while everyone is happy that Columbia/Ellicott City was named the second best place in the country to live by Money Magazine, "You don't just put your head in the sand and say 'We're number 2.'" 

Both were out supporting Democratic candidates.

"I vote every year," Terborg-Penn said, "Democrat for the most part because they have my concerns at heart."

At Centennial Lane Elementary School, Republican incumbent in the House of Delegates Dist. 9A, Gail Bates, was also out at the polls.

"I'm just trying not to sway any people," she said of her presence. "I'm just letting them do what they're going to do."

Outside of Ilchester Elementary School, Kathy Midkiff had a more targeted purpose. She was campaigning (with her dog), to kick a Rep. John Sarbanes, D., out of his 3rd Congressional Dist. Seat.

Midkiff said she didn't think elected officials should "inherit" their positions; Sarbanes' father was a U.S. Senator in Maryland's 3rd District in the 1970s.

Both she and her pooch sported Jim Wilhelm garb. "I'm for term limits," she said. "I don't think our founding fathers had that in mind, for these to become career positions."


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