Bailey and Zylak Will Face Off In November Sheriff Race

Republican Mickey Bailey, left, Democrat David Zylak, right. 

By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY'S TODAY

News Analysis

LEONARDTOWN ---  Democrat Dan Morris connected with the veterans who vote in St. Mary's but not enough of them came out to vote for the Marine Corps Veteran and States Attorney investigator to help him win the Democratic primary over Sgt. David Zylak who parlayed his wife's relatives and old Leonardtown family connections into victory.   Zylak's biggest problem now will be convincing folks that his wife won't end up like Hillary Clinton and actually run the department should her husband win.  Debbie Zylak has been very visible as a top civilian in the department and about the only way Zylak can remove this issue as a problem is for his wife to get a new job, which sources say she will never do.  Sgt. Mickey Bailey swept over Sheriff Richard Voorhaar's anointed candidate, Tom Sacks, a former DC cop who went out on medical retirement.   Retired Deputy Tom Haynie came in last after coming close to beating Voorhaar in the 1998 GOP primary. Zylak's supporters say that Bailey has never been "the police" as he has been a Kindergarten Cop over the years, working the D.A.R.E. program in the county schools while Zylak has been an experienced investigator in the criminal investigation division, has been a bonafide "road corporal" doing real police work, worked as a shift commander and as a traffic safety coordinator with important public relations duties.   Bailey's ability to deal with the general public is seen as  real plus along with a commitment to modern and professional police concepts.  This will be a tough race right down to the wire on Nov 5th. 
St. Mary's Commissioners Race
Ready for Republican Ruckus
LEONARDTOWN --- These results listed below appear to be final with absentee ballots counted before the end of the week, generally absentees are not numerous enough to change the votes for candidates except when only a few votes separate winners and losers.  
The conservative Republican team of Vernon Gray, Larry Jarboe, Joe Gass and Rocky Rowland ran against the GOP establishment ticket and won three of their party's nominations.   Rowland's loss to Tom McKay left the former Democrat McKay in the position to find a way to lead his skeptical and leery running mates, along with "Mr. Softball" Kenny Dement, to victory over the tax-hiking Democrats.  Former Commissioner Larry Jarboe won a stunning defeat against a negative campaign waged by GOP liberal Shelby Guazzo.   Jarboe should find victory in November a fairly easy task with his opponent unknown to virtually everyone. 
Julie Randall got 4191 votes to over 3180 for 76-year-old former finance officer Charles "Pappy" Wade in what can only be described as a stunning embarrassment.  While far-left wing Democrat Joe Anderson won, he did so after a bruising battle against Merl Evans, supported by two of his fellow commissioners, Raley and Mattingly, and will now face longtime Democrat-turned Republican, Kenny Dement, in November