Campaigns heat up

Dyson, McKay race closely watched

Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

Each of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties feature significant showdowns for seats in the Maryland General Assembly. The most closely watched and expensive contest pits longtime Sen. Roy P. Dyson against St. Mary’s County commissioners’ President Thomas F. McKay in a district that includes all of St. Mary’s, a large chunk of southern Calvert and a slice of eastern Charles.

Both campaigns will attempt to boost their coffers and polish their message in the coming weeks, but both candidates are already well known, and it is unclear whether the canvassing will have any impact.

Dyson, a former U.S. Congressman, got off to a fast start by holding two starkly different receptions this week. Several hundred supporters munched on hot dogs and hamburgers at a free picnic at Dorsey Memorial Park on Sunday, where Dyson (D-St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles), seemed to relish the one-on-one interaction and the relaxed atmosphere.

Dressed in a black polo shirt and black trousers, Dyson greeted guests as they entered the pavilion, talking about family rather than political topics. Supporters said it is that type of attitude that draws people to work for Dyson and separates him from McKay.

‘‘I don’t think our senator should go to Annapolis representing the governor’s platform,” said St. Mary’s County Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. ‘‘A senator should go to Annapolis to represent his own constituents, and I think that’s what Roy does.”

Dyson held a $250-a-plate fundraiser Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Old Breton Inn.

Maryland Republicans, including Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), believe McKay offers one of their best chances to pick up a seat in the Democrat-controlled Senate. McKay boasts more than three times as much campaign cash as Dyson, and he could receive more financial help from the state Republican Party.

‘‘Tommy McKay would be a great senator considering that Roy Dyson has given his votes time and again over to [Senate President] Mike Miller, and Tommy McKay will be sure he votes on behalf of the district,” said Audra Miller, a state GOP spokeswoman.

Both candidates are expected to take their message to the airwaves in the coming weeks.

But St. Mary’s College of Maryland political science professor Zach Messitte said few voters are undecided in that race because both families have such deep community roots.

‘‘While there are a lot of new people in St. Mary’s County ... most people know these guys personally and are well aware of their political records, so they have pretty firm feelings in their mind about what they think of them,” he said. ‘‘It’s not where there’s one person who’s got to do a whole lot of catch-up. They both have strong bases and have well-known names and well-known families.”

In Calvert, Del. Sue Kullen (D) will attempt to stave off a challenge from county commissioners’ President David F. Hale (R). A Democrat has held that seat for years, but Hale has collected an impressive sum of money and touts a strong resume and name recognition as head of a growing and affluent county.

Middleton believes that race will come down to ‘‘who works the hardest, who gets their message out,” since their positions are viewed as similar.

Kullen, who was tapped in 2004 to succeed then Del. George W. Owings III, is a vigorous campaigner whose profile has increased steadily since her appointment.

‘‘She works relentlessly,” Middleton said. ‘‘She is a hard-working individual and a rising star in the House of Delegates.”

In Charles County, Democrats are trying to heal wounds opened during a divisive primary race that saw Bryans Road resident Peter Murphy defeat Waldorf businessman Gregory V. Billups for the final spot on the November ballot. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Thomas ‘‘Mac” Middleton and Dels. Sally Y. Jameson and Murray D. Levy formed a ticket that they said reflected Charles County’s diverse community. Some Democrats felt Murphy was left in the cold and worked to topple the slate.

Now, Middleton, Jameson, Levy and Murphy are trying to unite the party with their sights set on unseating the county delegation’s sole Republican, Del. W. Daniel Mayer. Republican challenger James H. ‘‘Jim” Crawford is also running.

The attempted harmony was on full display Sunday, Sept. 17, at Middleton’s annual fundraiser, which drew more than 500 guests and raised more than $50,000. Middleton called Murphy to the microphone and pledged his support.

‘‘I am looking forward to working with you to get you to Annapolis,” Middleton said while shaking hands with Murphy.

Still, Middleton acknowledged that unity would not happen overnight. ‘‘There were some deep wounds that were caused during the primary,” he said. ‘‘The healing process is well under way, and I feel confident in the end that the Democrats will come together.”

E-mail Alan Brody at abrody@somdnews.com.