McDonough: Jennings rather than ‘outsider’ or ‘johnny-come-lately’

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: September 2, 2008

State Senate is no longer an option on the table for Republican Del. Pat McDonough. Instead, he is throwing his support to a colleague from his district whom he once called “a backstabber.”

In an interview today, McDonough announced that he is no longer seeking to replace state Sen. Andy Harris should Harris win his 1st District congressional race against Frank Kratovil in November.

Both McDonough and Harris represent the 7th District that includes Cockeysville, part of Perry Hall and Middle River.

McDonough cited several reasons for the decision, including:

• “My county executive exploratory committee is growing by leaps and bounds and is getting very exciting and very time consuming.”

• “I’ve never had an overwhelming desire to be in the state Senate. I’m on a committee in the House where I am starting to do some effective work. When you go to the state Senate you don’t know where you’re going to be, and it’s like starting over.”

• Growing interest in his petition drive to make English the official language of Baltimore County government.

“I can’t focus on too many things at one time,” McDonough said. “The state Senate project was simply not a top priority.”

Instead, McDonough said he will support Del. J.B. Jennings rather than former Republican delegate and Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer and Sergio Vitale, a Little Italy restaurateur and political newcomer.

“It’s common sense and natural that if there’s an opening in the district it goes to a delegate not an outsider, not a johnny-come-lately,” said McDonough, explaining that Redmer is the former and Vitale the later.

“Redmer just moved into the district doesn’t know the issues or the district. It’s an opportunistic move on his part,” McDonough said. “And Sergio, it’s like joining the Catholic faith and wanting to start out as the pope. Maybe you might want to consider running for an office first.”

McDonough said Jennings was the right person for the job despite having called his colleague a “backstabber” nearly three years ago when Jennings supported Democrat Del. Joseph “Sonny” Minnick as chairman of the county delegation.

At the time, Jennings said that Minnick personally asked for his vote prior to the delegation vote and before Republicans in the delegation informed him that they were attempting to oust Minnick in favor of Republican Del. Wade Kach.

McDonough downplayed the conflict.

“That one incident is very miniscule compared to six years of working on issues,” he said “We’ve worked very well together. If I didn’t think we did, then I wouldn’t support the guy.”

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