Dorchester Council President Newcomb falls in re-election effort

Dorchester Banner
Posted 11/15/22

Dorchester County Council President Jay L. Newcomb was upset in his re-election bid last week, clearing the way for two new members to assume seats on the five-member council. 

A Democrat, …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Dorchester Council President Newcomb falls in re-election effort

Posted

Dorchester County Council President Jay L. Newcomb was upset in his re-election bid last week, clearing the way for two new members to assume seats on the five-member council. 

A Democrat, Newcomb has served on the council since 2008. He lost a lopsided defeat to Republican Rob Kramer Jr., with 1,683 votes going to Kramer and 1,028 votes to Newcomb.

Kramer is the owner of Kramer Welding and REK Firearms in Cambridge. Born and raised in Dorchester, he serves as a rescue diver for the Mid-Shore Dive Team.

The two men were squaring off in District 1, which includes Church Creek, Elliott’s Island and Hooper’s Island.

Also joining the council will be Mike Detmer, a Republican who topped two opponents in the District 5 race.

Detmer won 1,720 votes to 481 votes for Democrat Zia Ashraf and 230 votes for Independent David W. Beverley II.

Incumbent Libby Handley-Nagel, a Republican, did not seek re-election.

Detmer is a U.S. Marine combat veteran and Dorchester Star journalist. District 5 includes waterfront neighborhoods in northwest and east Cambridge, such as Long Wharf Park.

In District 2, the county’s majority-minority district, Democrat William V. Nichols of Cambridge was the lone candidate and will return to the seat he has held for six terms. The district includes neighborhoods in central and southeast Cambridge.

Democrat Ricky Travers, who has been on the council since 2005, won the District 3 battle over Republican John E. James.

Travers had 1,476 votes to 859 for James. District 3 includes the waterfront neighborhoods in northwest and east Cambridge.

Republican George Pfeffer, who lives in Secretary, was unopposed for re-election to the District 4 seat, which encompasses the county’s north-central area fronting the Choptank River.

Courthouse offices

Sheriff James W. Phillips Jr., a Republican who has headed the Sheriff’s Office for the past 20 years, easily defeated Democrat LeRoi Robinson-Grant, 7,144 votes to 3,494 votes.

In the race for Register of Wills, Democrat Terry Dayton Wheatley pulled out a close victory over Republican Carla Spear.

Wheatley was trailing after Tuesday’s balloting, but mail-in votes counted Thursday gave her 5,682 votes to Spear’s 5,019 votes.

State’s Attorney Amanda Rae Leonard and Clerk of the Court Amy J. Craig ran unopposed.

Board of Education

In school board contests, Theresa E. Stafford defeated LeOtha N. Hull in District 2, receiving 714 votes to Hull’s 308.

In the District 4 election, Sheri Robinson Hubbard received 1,091 votes to 877 votes for Meghan B. McCarter.

Statewide offices

Though none of them won statewide, Dorchester voters backed the Republicans running for governor, attorney general and comptroller.

Dan Cox defeated Wes More in Dorchester gubernatorial balloting, with 57 percent of the vote.

Barry Glassman took 60 percent of the vote against the actual winner, Brooke Lierman, in the state Comptroller’s race.

In the Attorney General's race, Michael Anthony Peroutka received 59 percent of the vote over winner Anthony G. Brown.

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X