By Debra Messick

PRESTON -Farmers, friends, and former colleagues greeted former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan during a grassroots campaign stop in Preston Aug. 17.

Part of a six-stop weekend swing across the Eastern Shore on behalf of his “Strong, Independent Leadership” campaign, Hogan, now running for the seat of retiring Senator Ben Cardin, was warmly welcomed at the farmstead of his former Secretary of Agriculture, Joseph Bartenfelder.

Bartenfelder, a Democrat serving in both Hogan terms, hosted the midafternoon gathering, one of six Shore stops starting in Ocean City at the Maryland Association of Counties Convention, a Boardwalk visit with business owners and beachgoers, and the Poor Girls Open Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser, followed by visits to the Wicomico County Fair, and Denton’s Caroline Summerfest.

The bucolic Caroline County farm setting, which Bartenfelder’s three youngsters and others had decorated in red, white, and blue bunting, was festooned with Farmers for Hogan signs.

The former governor and first lady Yumi Hogan immediately mingled with the crowd, chatting, accepting the many requests to pose for pictures, and responding to individual questions.

One man wore a t-shirt bearing the words “Farmers & Friends, Seeds of Hope for Veterans,” while others sported black Hogan for Maryland t-shirts, bedecked on back with the phrase “Send a message to Washington.”

State Senator Johnny Mautz, State Representative Tom Hutchinson, and longtime former State Senator Richard Colburn were on hand, as was former Hogan administration Department of Natural Resources Secretary, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, who had previously represented District 37-B in the Maryland State House.

Area campaign workers included Caroline County Central Committee President Julie Quick and Vice President James (Jim) Baker.

Baker, 92, was greeted warmly by Mrs. Hogan, who proudly pointed to his Korean and Vietnam War Veterans hat, explaining that he had at times been her personal driver throughout her own service as First Lady.

Dressed in a chic summer ensemble, she confided that coming to the Eastern Shore took her back to her own roots growing up on a chicken farm in Korea.

“It feels like I’m coming home,” Mrs. Hogan said.

Talbot Central Committee’s Ray Grodecki was among Hogan’s first supporters during his first gubernatorial campaign.

Grodecki, who said he is known as “Uncle Ray,” drove to Kent Island to meet Hogan to help inform him about the importance of waterman’s issues and guided his media outreach in those early days.

“I told him, anytime you pass over that bridge, I’ll be there on Kent Island to meet you,” Grodecki said.

Despite the tight schedule constraints, Hogan’s youthful campaign team, led by 24-year-old  Press Secretary Blake Kernen, did their best to give him as much time as possible to mingle one on one before shifting to center stage to address remarks to the crowd.

Expressing appreciation to Bartenfelder and the many other farmers in attendance, Hogan said that agriculture had “really been neglected and forgotten” by state leadership, convincing him to correct that situation when he became Governor.

Hogan also pointed out that upon leaving office, the state had a $5.5 billion surplus, “which is not quite the same situation we’re in today,” he said.

Though proud of his record, Hogan had been enjoying the rewards of resuming private life, which included “spending time with my kids and grandkids, and making a little money,” he said, without “thinking a lot about” seeking public office again.

Even when the Senate seat of retiring Ben Cardin became open, and people began urging him to run, Hogan “still wasn’t really convinced” about heading back into the political arena.

Wife Yumi agreed that since leaving the governor’s office, Hogan had been relaxed and happy. But she knew that even more important to him than current happiness was the kind of future his children and grandchildren would inherit, and for that reason would have to accept the challenge.

Noting that “Washington is a mess” and rife with rancor, Hogan spoke of his reputation for independence and for reaching across the aisle to accomplish goals as a difference maker, especially in this election.

“It’s not just democrats versus republicans, or right versus left, it’s right against wrong,” he said. “It’s literally a fight for America’s future.”

“You all know that I don’t come from the ‘performance arts school’ of politics, I focus on getting the work done, just like all of you do,” Hogan said.

With just 81 days remaining until the election, he pledged to keep working every day, saying this is the “hardest fought race I’ve ever been in.”

Despite his tight schedule, Hogan was eager to offer anyone interested to pose for a picture between the giant red combines. He also took a few minutes to answer the Banner reporter’s questions about what he hoped to achieve in Washington, should he win.

“I’ll try to overcome the divisiveness from the extremes of both parties by reaching across the aisle, working together. As governor, my cabinet was bipartisan,” Hogan said. “If you talk to people here, you’ll find democrats, independents, and republicans. Those who know me, know I have the courage to stand up and speak my mind.”

Kernen cited this independence as a strength, indicating his potential as a swing vote in the Senate.

Not initially planning to work on a major political campaign, Kernen became inspired to do so by Hogan’s independence and record as governor.

“Most of all, he gives me hope,” she said.