Helton Challenge Still Alive

Despite what u may have heard, the challenge to candidate Art Helton's actual residency in his Primary fight with Rovall Washington for the District 34 Senate seat now held by Republican Nancy Jabobs, is still alive.  Right now it sits in the Appeals Court, challenging a local judge's decision to quash because of a passed deadline.

Helton vs. Washington Redoux?

Word I am hearing is that their likely will be an appeal and/or other residency complaints filed against former St. Sen. Art Helton (see previous postings) by candidate Rovall Washington (et al?).  These candidates have more charges & counter charges against each other than there are crabs in the Chesapeake.

Does character matter?  Yeah, I think that it does although defining it is much like definiting pornography- "I know it when I see it."

Health concerns and questions should be asked of the former Senator.  In Dec. he pulled out of this race for health concerns and in his recent court appearance was in a wheelchair, supposedly suffering from an infection.

On another note (or maybe the same?), someone who testified against Helton suffered recent, expensive, malicious property damage.  Coincidence?  Hey, u tell me.

Here is the Aegis' take on the hearing.  It seems that "intention" rules here in Harford County.  And then there is always the interesting chatter on http://www.daggerpress.org/

What does all this translate to?  Money rules (Helton can afford a lawyer & Washington can't), while the Republican Party is cheering in the background.  You play political hardball here in Maryland.

Candidate Helton Lives in Joppatowne!

Rovall Washington lost his challenge to Helton’s residency. Washington believes that was because neighbors who could testify from their personal observations that Helton does not live in the Ravenswood court house declined to come to court. There was some testimony regarding his past problems with his actual residency in Aberdeen with the Board of Elections threw out a few years ago.  Washington was not represented by an attorney while Helton (former State Senator) was.  Republicans were all over the courtroom audience. Candidate Helton was there sitting in a wheelchair.

Remember, these two are battling it out in a Democratic Primary for State Senate, a position Nancy Jacobs (R) now holds and would like to continue holding.

Washington's levelling of charges & not having a highly skilled lawyer handling this challenge was a real mistake.  If you can't get people up there to testify (and they couldn't), you ain't got jake, Jack.  Sorry, it makes both sides look rather foolish.  On the Helton's side it raises suspicions on where he really does live (or is it just an election residency & playing the system).  This was only Act I in what promises to be a very interesting and bloody Primary battle.

And then there's the actual election against a very tough 3x winner.  This was a sad day for Republicans & a heckuva lotta fun for Republicans who now can sit out the Primary season and just watch the bloodletting.  When the actual election rolls around, much of the hard work will have already been done- by their opponents against themselves!  Don't that beat all.  That's politics.

More on the interesting race and others later.  Here's the Sun's version.