Phillips enters delegate race

Levy retirement prompts switch from race for commissioner

Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

Republican Mike Phillips on Monday dropped his bid for one office and embarked on another, becoming the second candidate to announce a campaign for state delegate in the wake of Del. Murray D. Levy's decision to not seek another term.

His decision to switch from seeking the District 2 county commissioner seat avoids — at least for the time being — a contested GOP primary against Nanjemoy resident Rick Campbell.

The change of heart came at the urging of the Charles County Republican Central Committee, which wants to field a full slate of delegate candidates in the 28th Legislative District, which is currently represented in the House of Delegates by three Democrats.

Levy's retirement announcement caused Phillips to re-evaluate his electoral plans, but he said he didn't seriously consider switching races until the central committee asked him.

"That leaves a wide open door for both parties," Phillips said of Levy's decision.

The GOP Central Committee has pledged to give its full support and whatever financial backing it can to Phillips, he said.

This is the second time that Phillips, who is president of the Charles County Republican Club, has swapped races.

Phillips announced at the Charles County Lincoln Day dinner in February that he would run for delegate. Then in August, he jumped to the commissioner's race, officially filing candidacy papers shortly thereafter.

In recent months, Phillips has blasted the county commissioners' actions, from their decision to maintain the same tax rate — a move that will increase tax bills as property assessments rise — and their failure to immediately refuse a recommended salary increase proposed by an independent panel that, if approved, would take effect for the commissioners elected next year.

However, he said his heart was always in the delegate race, where he plans to focus his platform around the state's massive budget deficit and what he considers reckless overspending.

"I believe we need to address what are the essential services that need to be provided in the state of Maryland," Phillips said.

Initially, Phillips said he was uncomfortable with Campbell's positions on issues, but has since come to accept them and his representation of the Republican Party on the ballot.

"Circumstances changed where I can live with what he wants to do," said Phillips, noting that the two men have agreed to endorse each other.

"The goal here is party unity at all levels," he said in a press release issued on Tuesday. "I think the GOP is working hard to reach that goal."

The state's fiscal woes will be a major component of Phillips' campaign for delegate, he said. Lawmakers spend far too many taxpayer dollars — $36 million, he said — on "unnecessary expenditures," such as entitlement spending and pet projects.

He vowed to support a "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" that would require voter approval of any proposed tax hike, as well as transparency in government.

"I'm going to hold elected officials accountable that continue to spend our money and I'm going to not work with the county commissioners behind closed doors as some of our current delegates have done," he said.

Phillips doesn't think he'll be viewed as an opportunist for switching races after Levy announced his retirement. "If you're going to switch, now is the time," he said, repeating the advice he received from several supporters and campaign consultants.

Earlier this month, Phillips said a fresh perspective is needed in local and state office, making his decision on which seat to pursue almost interchangeable. "The problems are the same at every level of government," he said.

One week after Levy declared he would retire, Charles County Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) announced his bid for the open seat, moving up a decision he planned to make in the spring and potentially opening the floodgates to what could become a crowded field on both sides of the aisle.

abrody@somdnews.com