Four will vie for three seats on orphans court

Register of wills, court clerk unopposed

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

Incumbents Warren A. Bowie (D) of Indian Head, Elizabeth L. Garner (R) of La Plata and Kevin B. Wedding (R) of Newburg are all running for re-election to the court that meets every Tuesday to conduct judicial probate dealing with estates and guardianship of minors and their property.

J. Lorraine Berry (D) of Charlotte Hall is also running for a seat on the court.

The coming days will be a whirlwind for the judge hopefuls.

‘‘I’m excited, but a little tired,” Berry said. ‘‘But it’s been an awesome journey just getting out there and meeting people.”

They are all still working.

‘‘I’ll be spending the next few days like I’ve spent the last year,” said Wedding, the current chief judge. ‘‘Getting out in the community and doing what I’ve always done, campaigning for the office and showing an interest in doing the job.”

He thinks he has a shot at retaining his seat.

‘‘I have a record to run on,” Wedding said. ‘‘I’ve proven that I’m a fair and reasonable judge of the orphans court. I’m committed to the office and the community, as well.”

Bowie, the former mayor of Indian Head who was appointed to the court by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) in 2004, has the same plan as Wedding.

‘‘Basically I’ll doing same things I’ve been doing for the last six or seven months, going to all the functions I can, dinners, a few more mailings, put up signs at the polling places, handing out some literature,” he said. ‘‘Just keep on keeping on. There’s not much change between now and Election Day ... you gotta keep working.”

Yet, while the prospective orphans court judges are watching the election results to see how they’ll spend next Tuesday, Nov. 7, will be a calm Election Day for some candidates.

Charles County Register of Wills Susie Bowles and Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County Sharon L. ‘‘Sherri” Hancock are both running unopposed for re-election.

That doesn’t mean they won’t be busy.

‘‘I’m going out to support all the candidates,” said La Plata resident Hancock (D). ‘‘And I’m still out there for people to meet me and see me.”

Newburg resident Bowles echoed that sentiment but admitted running unopposed relieves some of the stress on Election Day.

‘‘I get to concentrate more on my job, not that I wouldn’t anyway,” said Bowles (R). ‘‘It’s an exciting time. I’m going to throw my support behind other candidates.”