Glendening would hold a special election for Wynn’s seat

Former Gov. Parris Glendening would hold a special election to fill Maryland’s 4th Congressional District seat if he were in office today, he told PolitickerMD.com.

“It’s not an easy yes or no question,” Glendening, who served as governor from 1995-2003, said. “I don’t envy Governor (Martin) O’Malley on this.”

Despite the fact that a special election could cost the state “several million dollars,” Glendening said, “I wouldn’t want to see the district without representation.”

O’Malley has yet to say if he will hold a special primary and general election to fill the remaining seven months of Rep. Al Wynn’s (D-Mitchellville) term when he resigns in June.

It is expected that Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who defeated Wynn in the Feb. 12 Democratic primary, would win a special election.

If she enters Congress before Jan. 3, Glendening said Edwards would have “seniority over a fairly large incoming class,” of new representatives.

“Seniority counts,” Glendening added.

The former governor said the failure to hold an election would be a “disservice to the residents” of the 4th District.

He acknowledged, however, that the financial costs would be “hard during normal times,” saying it was even more difficult during the current economic downturn.

While saying that he would like to see the special primary and general election held “as rapidly as possible,” Glendening said a scenario where the election is declared before Wynn’s resignation could cause a “chaotic situation.”

“The congressman could change his mind at the last moment,” Glendening said.

He also said a “rigid legal document” detailing Wynn’s resignation by a certain date would have to be prepared before consideration could be given to the proclamation of an election before June.

If a special election is held after Wynn’s resignation, residents of the 4th District will be left without representation until a new member is sworn-in after the 2008 general election.

In that period, Glendening said other members of congress, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, could “adopt the district” to ensure that the needs of the people are being served.

Stephanie Lundberg, a spokesperson for Hoyer, said the congressman did not have a position on the possibility of a special election.