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Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley Thanks Southern Maryland Supporters

By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY'S TODAY

SOLOMON'S ISLAND --- Sen. J. Frank Raley and Sen. Bernie Fowler were on hand on Thursday evening at Solomon's Pier as the main ballroom filled to capacity with Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles County Democrats who had turned out early and often during the campaign last year to bring the votes needed to the Baltimore Mayor as he worked to win back the Governor's Mansion for the Democratic Party. With an old-fashioned rip-roaring introduction from Sen. Roy Dyson, the soon to be sworn-in Governor looked on in awe as Dyson warmed up the crowd. Dyson's intro was delivered with such enthusiasm, well received by the crowd, that the former 5-term Maryland Congressman said that the party ought to be turning to the newly minted Governor as presidential material, an idea which met with immediate and hearty applause from the crowd.
The cold and icy wind blowing across the Patuxent River at this Solomon's Island landmark didn't keep anyone from showing up for the mid-winter event, but it did keep them from hanging around outside. Even the hot air generally associated with political events was no match for the return of Old Man Winter. But the eager Democrats streamed in from all over the region.
Newly elected Charles County Commissioner Gary Hodge, Calvert Commissioner President Wilson Parran, St. Mary's Commissioner Tommy Mattingly, Calvert Register of Wills Margaret Phipps, Leonardtown Mayor Chip Norris, Calvert Central Committee Chairman Chris Reynolds, former St. Mary's Commissioner President Julie Randall, former St. Mary's Commissioner Joe Anderson, Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey, Norma Powers who wore the party's banner in her run against Republican Del. Tony O'Donnell, former Calvert Commissioner and Secretary of Agricultural Hagner Mister, St. Mary's Central Committee Member Doris Bean led the parade of local present and former party elected officials.
Missing in action were the Republicans and the builders and developers who funded the election campaigns of defeated Gov. Robert Ehrlich and former commissioner Tommy McKay, who lost his bid to defeat Dyson. While the fat cats who shelled out money to continue in office an administration which never once cracked down on those who were polluting the Bay with runoff from non-existing or ineffective stormwater management; O'Malley stood shoulder to shoulder with Dyson, literally overtop of the Patuxent River and promised that his administration would enforce the law to protect and clean up the river and Bay.
O'Malley pledged that the budget deficit would not be closed by seizing transportation trust fund monies and that the sanctity of state park land would be respected.
Washington Post ace photographer Mark Gail, usually seen only behind the camera, regales attendees with news war stories as the crowd waits for Governor-elect O'Malley to arrive at Solomon's Pier on Solomon's Island.
ST. MARY'S TODAY photo by K. C. Rossignol

More news and photos on this story coming up in this week's print edition....