Gansler tops Simms in Democratic primary for attorney general

Friday, Sept. 15, 2006

Montgomery County Councilman Thomas E. Perez, who did not meet the constitutional requirements to run for attorney general and was ruled ineligible by the Maryland Court of Appeals, received almost 2 percent of the vote — more than 7,800 tallies — even though they did not count.

The pending retirements of Sarbanes (D-Md.) and longtime Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. (D) opened the door for change in several high-ranking offices, producing Maryland’s most electrifying primary season in years.

Simms was a late entry in the race, filing to run after Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan abandoned his gubernatorial bid to seek treatment for clinical depression. Simms, who is African-American, was Duncan’s running mate and received support from most Democratic elected officials in Southern Maryland.

But Gansler who enjoyed a wide fundraising advantage and had a more organized campaign team, swept all three counties, en route to his triumph. Gansler won Charles 63 to 37 percent, Calvert 66 to 34 percent and St. Mary’s 61 to 39 percent.

Simms, speaking to supporters Tuesday night at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Baltimore, said he was proud to have waged a credible campaign that fell victim to a lack of time and resources. ‘‘I felt we did extraordinarly well with what we had and with the challenges we faced,” he said. ‘‘We competed strongly right through the end, I thought.”

Gansler will face Frederick County State’s Attorney Scott L. Rolle, who was the only GOP attorney general candidate, in the general election.

Alan BrodyThomas DennisonAlia Malik