GOP nominates Wedding for court

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Local GOP leaders are recommending that Gov. Martin O'Malley appoint Kevin Wedding to fill a vacant seat in the county's orphans court.

The Charles County Republican Central Committee forwarded its recommendation to O'Malley (D) a couple of weeks ago, said Charles Lollar, chairman of the county's RNC.

Wedding, a Newburg resident, served on the orphans court from 1998 to 2006. He served as the chief judge from 2003 to 2006.

"Kevin's experience in the community and the position more than qualifies him for the post," Lollar said, adding that county GOP leaders hope that the governor will appoint Wedding, 44, before the end of this year's Maryland General Assembly session in Annapolis.

Wedding lost his seat to J. Lorraine Berry (D) in the 2006 election.

Wedding said that his experience as a business owner in the community and the many years that he served on the orphans court work in his favor to fill the seat that was vacated by Elizabeth L. Garner. The 83-year-old retired from the court Feb. 1 after serving 26 years.

"I enjoyed working with her," he said. "She was a fair person and very experienced. She will be missed."

Wedding is the past president of the Greater Waldorf Jaycees, serves on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Charles County and is the government liaison for the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation.

Wedding owns a family business, Newburg Service Center, and is also an associate with Baldus Real Estate in La Plata.

Wedding said that he is eager to begin serving again as a judge of the orphans court.

"I want to get back to continue what I started," he said, adding that he successfully lobbied for the judges to wear robes during hearings. "I see those changes that make the court more business oriented."

The orphans court meets every Tuesday to deal with probate issues regarding estates and guardianship of minors and their property.

The annual salary for the seat is $10,000, said Bruce Wesbury, a Republican Central Committee member.

Wedding said that the workings of the orphans court rarely make the newspapers, but it is an important judicial function. One of the most crucial jobs of the court is appointing a guardian who will represent a minor in property matters in the event of his or her parents' death, he said, adding that property can include real estate, personal items or money.

"The person who we appoint has to be trustworthy because that person will be in charge of the child's property until he or she is 18 years old," he said. "The importance of this court demands that you have intelligent, reasonable people who are connected to the community making these decisions."

Warren Bowie (D), who has served as the chief judge of the orphans court since 2006, said that he is looking forward to working again with Wedding.

"I'm absolutely delighted that he is being appointed because he has experience," he said. "Kevin is a great guy. I'm real pleased that he's coming back."

nmcconaty@somdnews.com