School board chair says he'll run for county commissioner

Others elected to oversee education also considering stepping up in 2010

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Bill Mattingly, school board chair, said he has made up his mind to run for the 3rd District commissioner seat representing the northern end of St. Mary's County, now held by Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R).

There are still several months before anyone can officially file for office in St. Mary's — that registration opens this summer — and plenty of time for campaigns with 20 months until the 2010 election. Election officials said that candidates can begin to set up their fundraising accounts.

"I've aspired to do this for a long time," Mattingly said. He began his elected political career in 1986 when he won a spot on the St. Mary's County Democratic Central Committee.

He is in the middle of his second term on the school board and currently serves as the chair.

Mattingly said it would be a natural progression for him to seek a spot on the board of county commissioners.

"In the last couple of months I've been talking to different people all the way from Scotland to Golden Beach," Mattingly said. "Just testing the waters, if you will."

As for Jarboe, the incumbent, Mattingly said, "I really haven't considered him ... I just want to run for county commissioner and work for St. Mary's County."

Jarboe was first elected as a county commissioner in 1994, lost the next race four years later and then won the last two elections. County commissioners in St. Mary's can no longer run after serving three consecutive terms.

"It's within the very strong possibility," Jarboe said of running again next year.

Of Mattingly's intentions to run, Jarboe said, "Sometimes when you're doing a good job in one place it's called stick around … That's the way I feel about being on the commissioners."

County Commissioners Daniel H. Raley (D), who represents the 4th District, and Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D), who represents the 2nd District, will wrap up their third consecutive terms next year and so are not eligible to run for re-election.That will leave at least two county commissioner seats open next year.

"I'm giving it some serious consideration," Mary Washington, school board member, said of running for county commissioner. "There are many people in the county who say it's time to run."

With 13 years on the board of education and a long history of volunteer work in the county, Washington said she would bring dedication, diversity and experience to the commissioner board.

"My call is public service," Washington said. "If I were to run, it would probably be the 4th District, Lexington Park area."

Cathy Allen, school board vice chair, said for her it is a bit too early to decide to run for county commissioner in 2010, but, she said, "It's crossed my mind."

Allen lives in the 2nd District, the Hollywood and Leonardtown area, currently represented by Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. Allen was elected in 2008 to her third term as a school board member.

"It's a little early for me" to decide his next political move, said school board member Sal Raspa. Although he would not rule out a run for county commissioner next year, he said, "It's difficult to unseat an incumbent, and [Commissioner Kenny Dement (R)] is likely to run again." Dement represents the 1st District, southern St. Mary's, as county commissioner. Raspa represents the same area on the school board. Both are serving their second terms.

School board candidates run unaffiliated with any party. There are no limits to how many times a person can win a four-year seat on the school board.

Linda Knott, administrative assistant at the county's board of election office, said July 6 this summer is the earliest any candidate can file for the 2010 election.

Maryland's primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, and the general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010.

Election officials asked that voters notify the board of elections anytime they have a change of address to better facilitate mailings and other information.

jyeatman@somdnews.com