More Rakes fallout...

Yesterday I brought up the complications the Howard County Democratic Central Committee may face in appointing a successor to District 2 councilman David Rakes, who just resigned for health reasons. Basically, my point is that since the central committee stays out of primaries, appointing a current candidate for the seat might run afoul of its policies. The Sun has more today.

Heading the list of those who could be appointed to serve out the rest of Rakes' term is Calvin Ball, a 30-year old Democrat who lost the party nomination for the District 2 seat to Rakes four years ago. Ball and one other Democrat, former Sun reporter Adam Sachs, 42, are running for the District 2 seat.

...Ball said he is interested in the appointment, and he said it could "provide continuity to the next council." County party Chairman Tony McGuffin said, "We're going to follow the rules," but he added that Ball is "very popular. He's obviously the front-runner in the campaign."

Sounds like they're setting the table for a Ball appointment, no? It's good to see McGuffin at least throw rules-sticklers like me a bone, but we'll have to wait and see what the ultimate decision is and what justifications are used to support it.

My rules obsession aside, the bigger issue is obviously how this affects the council. With David Rakes' help, the Republicans seized control a few months ago and votes started going their way. However, now that Rakes is gone, so is his reliable vote. Here's what Sun reporter Larry Carson had to say:

Rakes' support was crucial in [councilman Chris] Merdon's December selection as chairman, and Rakes also provided key support for the Republicans in defeating County Executive James N. Robey's proposal for a smoking ban in all county bars and restaurants after two years. A Merdon-backed bill with a four-year enforcement delay was vetoed by an angry Robey.

If Ball or another anti-smoking Democrat is selected to fill out the term, Robey could resubmit his smoking-ban bill, though neither the executive nor Ball would speculate on that yesterday.

The resignation also weakens Merdon's hand in coming deliberations on Robey's last annual budget, starting next month. Robey, a Democrat, has proposed a 3-cent property tax cut, while Merdon favors cutting the local income tax.

I can't imagine there is any way the Democrats will appoint somebody who will not strictly adhere to the party's wishes, which almost certainly means voting with councilmen Ken Ulman and Guy Guzzone on everything. Merdon can't be happy about this.

Further down, the article gets into the muddy territory of why Rakes really left.

But several Republicans speculated that tension with fellow Democrats is why Rakes is leaving.

"My own personal observance is that the administration and his colleagues made life a living hell for him while he was here," said western county Republican Charles C. Feaga. "I have never observed someone so hurt as he was in the State of the County address. I thought they really went after him badly."

...Brian Harlin, chairman of the county Republicans and Rakes' opponent in 2002, focused his ire at west Columbia Democrat Ken Ulman, who is Merdon's rival this year for county executive.

"I think it's absurd the way Ulman treated Rakes," Harlin said, referring to comments Ulman made last summer after Rakes reversed course and opposed a housing bill he had supported. Ulman said at that time that Rakes did not understand the bill and that "his constituents should be embarrassed for him."

"He can't take it anymore," Harlin said of Rakes. He said the Democrats' credo is, "If you don't do what the Democratic Party tells you, we'll get rid of you."

I don't share the Republican's feigned sympthathy for David Rakes the Politician. I, however, have no doubt that we share honest sympathy for David Rakes the Individual.

But the point is Rakes was making decisions that ran counter to promises he made in his campaign and the desires of his constituents. Further, he barely escaped ethics violations and ran into trouble with the state Board of Elections. And Ulman called him out, as he should.

Nobody ever said politics is friendly.