VICTORIOUS CRAIG: 'I Am a True Republican'

David Craig has one hurdle left in his quest to be re-elected as Harford County executive, and it is expected to be a small one.

The incumbent candidate has defeated Robert Wagner and Fred Silva in the Republican primary race. With nearly all of the 77 precincts reporting late Tuesday night, Craig had won two-thirds of the vote.

Craig now only has to defeat little-known Constitution Party member Mark Fisher in November's general election to win a second term, a race Craig is expected to win easily. 

"I am a true Republican," Craig said as he thanked the county voters before hundreds of supporters at his election headquarters. Upon arrival he was fittingly introduced to the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling."

Craig strolled into the tent at the Republican Campaign Headquarters at 118 S. Main St. shortly after 9:30 p.m., claiming victory with nearly 65 percent—a number that stuck for most of the night.

"I think Abraham Lincoln maxed out at 53 percent," Craig said, addressing the crowd. "[Harford County voters] didn't really want change. They like what we're doing. They like what we're doing with the County Council. We stuck to our Republican principals of keeping government small, keeping government efficient, keeping taxpayers dollars in your pockets as much as possible, lowering the tax rate and lowering the tax cap, and lowering property taxes $24 million this year without cutting services. That's what it's all about."

Wagner, who accused Craig of increasing property tax rates and adding to the county's deficit—claims that Craig denied—was the primary challenger. Wagner has received 30 percent of the vote and Silva 6 percent.

"Craig did great," said David Shrodes, uncle of County Council District D primary winner Chad Shrodes. "The victory shows that county voters are satisfied with his leadership."

Voters polled cited familiarity with Craig and an appreciation for the job he has done leading Harford County during the recession as to why they voted for him.

"David Craig has done a really good job," Forest Hill resident Sandy Keggins, 43, said. "He's done a really good job in a difficult situation. He deserves to be in this office and stay in his office."

Craig, a father of four, is a former educator in the Harford County Public School System who served as a Havre de Grace City Councilman from 1979-1985. He was Mayor of the City of Havre de Grace from 1985-1989, and from 2001-2005. He was a member of the House of Delegates from 1991-1994, and of the state Senate from 1995-1999.

"Thank you for acknowledging that we stuck to our promises that we made back when we ran four years ago," Craig told Bel Air Patch just before his victory speech. "I'm very happy with all the people that helped."

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