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Politics & Government

ELECTION RECAP: Craig, McMahan Highlight Primary Winners

In a primary election where a number of candidates were unopposed, one of the most intriguing races happened in Bel Air.

On a day when many Democrats were unopposed, crowded Republican races proved just as uneventful.

County Executive David Craig moved one step closer to re-election and will face Mark Fisher of the Constitution Party in the Nov. 2 general election. Craig received nearly two-thirds of the vote against Robert Wagner and Fred Silva.

Billy Boniface was unopposed as President of the County Council, as was fellow Republican Richard Slutzky, who represents District E.

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In District A, Republican Yvonne Baldwin will face Democratic incumbent Dion Guthrie.

Republican incumbent Joe Woods won the District B primary, and with no Democratic challengers, will retain his seat.

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Incumbent James McMahan defeated Town Commissioner Terence Hanley in the District C race, and will face Democrat Jack Feldman, who was unopposed yesterday.

Mary Ann Lisanti, who, along with Guthrie, is the only other Democratic incumbent on the Council, will face Republican Sheryl Kohl Davis for the District F seat. Neither candidate was opposed in the primary.

Sitting Sheriff Jesse Bane was unopposed, but it is still unclear whom he will face in the general election. Jeffrey Gahler leads Steven Bodway by just 66 votes—0.33 percent—in the Republican primary with absentee and provisional ballots still to be tallied.

Republicans Joseph Cassilly and James Reilly were unopposed to retain their positions as State's Attorney and Clerk of the Circuit Court, respectively.

Derek Hopkins emerged from a crowded race to represent the Republican Party in the Register of Wills battle. He will face Democrat Tom Hopkins, who won his primary dual. Neither is related to the man they are vying to replace—Harry Hopkins—or each other.

Commissioner Robert Preston unsuccessfully challenged Derek Hopkins and has another year left on his term to serve the town.

The day was not without incident, though, as three of the five Republican competitors for the Delegate race in District 35A engaged in a last-minute war—verbal and material. Incumbents Wayne Norman—who was at the center of the scuffle—and Donna Norman advanced to November.

Absentee one ballots will be canvassed Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Harford County Board of Elections. On Sept. 22, absentee two and provisional ballots will be canvassed, potentially deciding the Republican primary in the Sheriff's race.

See unofficial results here.

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