A Rematch in the Works

There’s an old saying that goes, “The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” Typically, someone in a serious contest feels one or the other.

Unfortunately, I know one man that felt both, in the same contest, in less than 12 hours.

On election night 2010, Bob Long was anxiously awaiting his Maryland House of Delegates race results when he heard a news announcement: the Associated Press had declared him the winner in his bid for a House seat in the hallowed (but empty) halls of Annapolis.

Imagine the heartbreak Bob felt when he awoke the next morning and found out that the announcement was premature.

As many of us know, the race isn’t over until all the votes are counted. And when those votes were all counted, Bob ended up about 1,400 shy of victory.

For many people, that would have been the knockout punch that took them out of the political arena. But not Bob. Undeterred by the gut-wrenching turn of events in 2010, he was determined to put on his gloves, take up his agenda once again, and get back into the often bloody political ring.

Thus, Bob is now in full campaign mode and looking to hear his name announced as the victor. (I can only guess, but one has to think that he will put little faith in any projections this time.)

My assessment on Bob is that he is a hard and dedicated worker who has been at every community meeting that I have ever attended. This shows dedication to the community in my book.

Bob’s campaign message is not a complicated one. Rather, it is one that—if the voters listen this time—could make a big difference in this tax burdened state of affairs. One of his most important messages is found in this news release on the Homestead Tax Credit. This is a must for all homeowners, such as myself.

There is one area where I would like to see some improvement with Bob—I think he should be a little more aggressive. As I see it, his political messages are basically the same as his last run, but the landscape has changed significantly. Today, there are plenty of problems that need not only strong leadership, but a strong set of lungs to get the message through.

The current lay of the land shows three definite candidates: Bob, East County Republican Club President Ric Metzger and Dundalk’s Eric Washington. There are some other names floating around, but I’m not quite sure of their status.

Hopefully, the winners of the election will hope to do more than sit in cushy chairs playing computer card games. (No offense intended to the rest of the hard-working politicians out there, wherever you may be.)

Maybe candidates should take note of that scenario and add a new statement to the oath they take in Annapolis. (“I swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof, while not playing solitaire on my laptop…”)

It’s just a thought…