Campaign Notes

On Wednesday, state Sen. David Brinkley is expected to announce his “future plans” for the 6th Congressional District race. State lawmakers from Washington and Frederick counties are expected to back Brinkley at a press conference in Frederick, Md., a campaign spokesman told Patch.

The 6th Congressional District now includes a large chunk of Montgomery County, contentious turf upheld by federal judges who recently dismissed a lawsuit challenging the redrawn district.

All the while, Brinkley (R-District 4, Carroll and Frederick Counties) has been drumming up support from Western Maryland lawmakers — appointing Sen. Christopher B. Shank (R-District 2, Washington County) as his Washington County campaign chairman; Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R-District 1A, Allegany and Garrett Counties) as chairman of his Garrett County campaign; and Del. LeRoy E. Myers Jr. (R-District 1C, Allegany and Washington Counties) as his Allegany County campaign chairman.

Montgomery County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mark Uncapher is also among Brinkley’s backers.

Brandon Rippeon Appoints Campaign Chairman

Republican candidate Brandon Rippeon has gained support from a former Montgomery County GOP leader: Jim Shalleck was named Rippeon’s campaign chairman, a spokesman told Patch.

In addition to having served as Montgomery County GOP chairman, Shalleck, a local attorney, was Maryland vice chairman for U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008. Shalleck ran for state’s attorney in 1994 and 2006. 

Bartlett Steps Up Fundraising Efforts

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett has stepped up his fundraising efforts, bringing in about $150,000 in recent weeks — compared with the scant $1,000 he held in his campaign coffers early on, which fueled rumors that the 10-term congressman was going to retire, The Associated Press reported.

In fact, Bartlett is the state's wealthiest member in Congress.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bartlett’s net worth was estimated between $2.4 million and $8.2 million, putting him 58th among the 435 members of the House of Representatives.  The Washington Post published the data last week.

Deployment Pauses Milad Pooran’s Campaign

Democratic candidate Milad Pooran said he has put his campaign on pause because he’s been deployed to Germany, The Herald-Mail reported.

Pooran, an Air National Guardsman, told the Hagerstown, Md.,-based newspaper that he was going to be part of a critical-care air-transport team that treats service members injured in combat.

The only other Democrat who has officially filed for candidacy, according to Maryland election records, is state Sen. Robert Garagiola, a Germantown resident whose backers include Md. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

Former Montgomery County councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg, a Democrat, has expressed interest in running for congress but as of Tuesday afternoon had not filed with the state election board.