State Senate- District 34- Who lives Where?

**UPDATED**

Ah, politics.  Interesting, lively- love, romance, mystery- all the things needed for a damn good story.  And in this election year, the Democrats are already shaping up for a rather lively primary against the popular 3x elected Senator- Republican Nancy Jacobs.

Remember, I'm still "lost" here- newly arrived from R.I. after being "lost" there for quite awhile.  But I do know something about politics- witness 3 tries myself- two for state senate.

Primaries are usually not considered to be good things.  One would assume after a primary that the party would then unite behind the winner and all bad feeling would be gone with the wine.  Yeah, right.  And you believe in  the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny, right?

What it does usually is produce bad blood all around (esp. with those of us who have to listen/read this stuff).  A political group split by dissension usually does not happily reunite and stride on to victory.  What often emerges is a party in shreds, lots of bad feeling, with no ability to reunite in defeating the common foe.  In fact, an obsteperous primary, and this one already has all the markings of one, while quite entertaining to watch, is not something that any candidate should look forward to (despite the rhetoric).  Ahhh, but the Republican opponent must be licking her chops, just waiting for the bloodletting (one the Democratic side) to begin.  And it has.

Democratic candidate Rovall Washington accuses the other candidate, Art Helton, of voter fraud- namely not actually residing in is district.  Pretty serious charges, right?  Especially since election rules here require you to reside in your district for 6 mos. before an election (and there will be a Sept. Primary).  This district covers souther Harford County (not Belair) and western Cecil Co. (where I reside in lovely Perryville).  The major towns are: Joppa, Edgewood, Aberdeen, Riverside, Havre De Grace, Pt Deposit, Perryville & Abingdon.

ABC News runs the bones of the story (along with some misspellings); although if you don't mind reading another somewhat slanted Democratic view, the http://www.daggerpress.com/2010/06/08/as-primary-nears-state-senate-candidate-washington-challenges-heltons-joppa-residency/  offers a more lively version (and lots of comments- check them out but always be skeptical of unsigned comments without documentation).

Candidate Helton evidently has switched residences many times depending on which election district candidacy appeals to him.  Nice to have $, isn't it?  Elections are not run cheaply (and I oughtta know).  Mr. Helton was in the Havre de Grace Fourth of July parade.  Oddly enough, he chose not to be in the candidate section which perhaps explains why there was not one clearly visible election sign on his float (I spotted a hidden one).  He instead seemed to be in the "regular" section of the parade as a businessman, although the whole float and purpose and sponsor seemed somewhat nebulous.  His name was definitely present on the float, though.

Former Aberdeen delegate and Democratic Central Committee member (and fellow Washington college graduate), Barbara Osborn Kreamer, filed a complaint with the Board of Elections regarding his actual in 2007.  Aberdeen native Kreamer realized that his "home address" was actually a business location.  The Harford Board of Elections then forced him to change his residence to his actual home in Darlington.  His wife, Ann, who has been a candidate (Harford Co. Exec.), has done the same.  Kreamer then was punished by the Central Committee and kicked out of office (oh, u bad girl, Barbara).

Oddly enough, Helton who was "in" the race earlier, dropped out in Sept. 09 for health reasons.  Guess he's feeling better.  Helton heled get Aberdeen Mayor Mike Bennett elected in 08 and was in charge of his "transition" team, as was wife Ann.

As part of their decision, the Board stated that Helton would not be allowed to change his residency again without overwhelming proof of such.  "Since 2002, the board found, Helton had changed his registration five times among four addresses in Aberdeen, Havre de Grace and Darlington." (source)  But since Helton owns a number of properties, this evidently hasn't held him back one iota.  At least yet.  We'll see what happens.  Does Helton actually live in Joppa?  Edgwood, Darlington, Aberdeen,  Harvre de Grace?  Heck, and I think that I'm "lost."  Not to mention confused.  There's more but I weary for now.

But let's not stop with Art Helton.  What about Rovell Washington?  Helton says that he owns no home in the district (who cares) but recently lost a home that was foreclosed on elsewhere (not a good thing).  Then there are personal allegations against both candidates.

All of which make current Sen. Nancy Jacobs look damn good.  I'm exhausted just writing about the two current Dem. candidates and their lively backgrounds.  Whew!  Stay tuned for more- mystery, romance, sex, lies, more yak, yak, yak.  Policies will just get buried in our "gotta know" times.  Does all this stuff matter?  Yeah, it does.  It speaks to character.