By Greg Bassett

While it might seem like we all just went through an election cycle, the fact is we’re about to enter another one.

The deadline to file for state and local races is less than a month away.

Candidates have until Tuesday, Feb. 22, to file for their party’s primary contest, which will be held Tuesday, June 28.

It used to be in Maryland that an election season was a relatively brief exercise. Candidates would normally file in the summer, the primary election was held in September, the general election in November. Now, an election season stretches nearly a year.

In Wicomico’s local races, only the County Executive contest has yet to take form. Acting County Executive John Psota – appointed to the post in November 2020 by the County Council – has filed his intention to run as a Republican, as has public school teacher Julie Giordano.

County Council Vice President Ernie Davis has filed to run as a Democrat to fill the executive’s seat.

State Delegate Carl Anderton, the District 38B legislator whom the council passed over twice in ultimately selecting Psota, had been expected to run for County Executive. But, now, Anderton finds the primary crowded with two GOP members, and is more likely to seek a General Assembly re-election. 

Davis will have to give up his council seat to run; no one has yet to file for District 1.

In District 2, Republican Nicole Acle won the seat in a 2020 special election, after earlier being appointed to fill an open slot. Acle had reportedly considered running for County Executive, but announced Tuesday she will run for a delegate’s seat in District 37B, now held by Salisbury businessman Chris Adams, a two-term Republican.

Thus far, David Louis Snyder, a Salisbury Republican, is the lone filer in District 2.

District 3 also has yet to see any fillers, but incumbent Republican Larry Dodd said last week he is considering running for re-election.

District 4, now held by Democrat Josh Hastings, also has no filers. Hastings is believed to be considering a run for Anderton’s House of Delegates seat.

Councilman Joe Holloway, a Parsonsburg Republican who has held the District 5 seat since 2006, said last week he will seek re-election, but neither he nor anyone else has yet to file.

Wicomico has two at-large County Council seats. Democrat incumbent Bill McCain has already said he won’t seek another term. Council President John Cannon, a Republican, hasn’t declared his intentions yet, but is considered a more-than-likely candidate.

James Winn, a Mardela Springs Republican, is the only candidate to so far file at large.

The county’s four so-called “Courthouse Offices” – State’s Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk of Court and Register of Wills – have all seen their incumbents file for re-election. Only State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes has a challenger this far, as former Assistant State’s Attorney and current criminal defense lawyer James L. "Lee" Britt has filed for the GOP primary.

Wicomico school board races are competed as non-partisan exercises.

So far, George M. Demko, Kristin N. Hazel and Darren J. Lombardo, all of Salisbury, have filed for the two available at-large seats.

Fred Connolly of Salisbury has filed in District 2, while incumbent Tonya Laird Lewis of Willards has filed in District 3.

A previous contender, David Plotts of Salisbury, has filed in District 4. Jake Blank of Salisbury has filed in District 5.

No candidates have filed so far in District 1.