Wood Rounds Up Big Crowd for Bull Roast
Event is unofficial kickoff for next general election as
promises of support are sought by potential candidates

Del. John Wood ST. MARY'S TODAY photo Huge crowd bolsters Wood's campaign treasury and makes it clear what has to happen to be able to run against the entrenched incumbent.	Judge Joseph Weiner ST. MARY'S TODAY photo Kicking off campaign for son Teddy to take over as States Attorney as a Democrat candidate while Republicans do the same by backing Shane Mattingly to run.

By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY'S TODAY

BRETON BAY --- A huge crowd rolled over the hills of Bailey's Olde Breton Bay Inn and golf club on Tuesday, first taking part in a golf tournament and then assaulting a big table of fried chicken, roast beef, sausages and assorted deserts to bolster the reelection bid of Delegate John Wood (D. Mechanicsville).

With Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, Sen. Mac Middleton and Congressman Steny Hoyer helping to kick off the few speeches under Wood's big top behind Olde Breton Inn, the crowd barely stopped talking to listen to the speeches, which occurs each year.  Those in charge of the program turn up the volume on the speakers in return and the crowd just gets louder, showing that they don't need to be stupefied by speeches in order to support Johnny Wood, they just do.

Former Democratic Central Committee Members Lorraine Boyd, Bobby Gant, Kenny Wathen and Lanny Lancaster were on hand along with Pat Woodburn, a current member who is also seeking election to the St. Mary's School Board.    School Board Member Dr. Sal Raspa and his wife Myra were on hand along with former Delegates Mike Sprague of Charles County and John William Quade, of St. Mary's County, along with current Delegates Sally Jameson (D. Waldorf) and John Bohanan (D. Lexington Park). 

Democratic Central Committee Chairman Frank Taylor was also at the bull roast, fresh back from the Boston Convention which nominated John Kerry as the party's nominee for president.  Taylor is being mentioned as a probable Democratic candidate for commissioner president in the next local election.

Former Circuit Court Judge Joe Weiner was on hand, coming out to a political event for the first time in 15 years.  Judge Weiner's return to the political arena signaled his launching of his son Teddy Weiner's  anticipated run for the job currently held by States Attorney Richard Fritz (R.).  Teddy Weiner is currently Deputy States Attorney, and anxious to land the job of the top prosecutor, a post held by Judge Weiner from 1966 until he was appointed to the Circuit Court by Governor Marvin Mandel.

With the likely race of Republican Central Committee Chairman Shane Mattingly for States Attorney, Weiner's entry as a Democrat proves that almost everyone is counting on Fritz being down for the count due to the extreme animosity women voters have shown towards Fritz in his attempt to unseat Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams in the March election. Fritz came in third in the GOP primary, running behind two Democrats while losing the Democratic Primary to Abrams.  Candidates running for Judge must run in both party primaries.

St. Mary's Commissioners Tommy McKay and Kenny Dement were on hand, even though they are Republicans, but they can recognize a deal, that of being able to court hundreds of voters for the mere price of admission. 

While sometimes not agreeing on legislation, Wood always draws the support of Sen. Roy Dyson who sent his brother Lee to represent him due to a conflict of schedules.

Democrat Commissioners Tommy Mattingly and Dan Raley were just as adept at working the crowd as anyone, not skipping a single voter, especially Mattingly, who had Republican Dan Burris working along right behind him.  Burris is likely to run in two years and stands a good chance of unseating the high tax Democrat.

2002 Democratic Sheriff candidate Danny Morris was gathering supporters left and right urging him to run to replace the hapless Sheriff Zylak who has been floundering for the past two years.  While noncommittal, Morris is gaining volunteers as each week passes.

Del. Johnny Wood's prowess at raising campaign money has yet to be equaled or surpassed but Wood spends most of his money on donations to local groups such as the rescue squad, band boosters at Chopticon and for fundraising events, making Wood the local Robin Hood Wood of politics, taking money from those eager to give and bestowing the cash upon those in need.

Large statewide firms and organizations lined up to buy tickets to Wood's roast and to sponsor golf club holes.

A big push was being made to remind those present to support Francis Hewitt's bid for reelection to the SMECO board with one observer recalling how Col. Norwood Sothoron took for granted his election bid only to lose the race.

State Police Superintendent Col. Tim Hutchins was on hand and while St. Mary's Sheriff David Zylak didn't make it back to the county to lead the hunt for the bank robbers who held up a bank in the middle of Leonardtown last Saturday morning, he did manage to come back to the county from Martha's Vineyard for the bull and golf.