Fundraising for 2010, Elmore weighs-in on CD-1 race

Del. D. Page Elmore raised money for 2010 todayDel. D. Page Elmore (R-Salisbury) gathered a large group of supporters to celebrate his 69th birthday and do a little fundraising at the Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, today. It was the delegate's fourth annual crab and pork feast.

"It gives me the opportunity to see a lot of my constituents," Elmore told PolitickerMD.com prior to the event. "It's the first crab feast of the year and people have been waiting for the crabs."

"We don't do a lot of political talk," he added.

The delegate, who is not up for re-election until 2010, said roughly 400 tickets had been sold at a cost of $40 per person.

He said the fundraiser "keeps me in contact with people," which is "always a campaign issue."

We had a chance to ask Elmore, the chairman of the Eastern Shore Delegation, for his thoughts on the race in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, where state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) and State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) are doing battle.

"I'm supporting Andy Harris," Elmore said. "I know his philosophy and we have a good working relationship."

"I come from a rural district that has a lot of watermen and farmers and (Harris) has always been very supportive of my bills," Elmore said, describing his support for Harris' candidacy.

Elmore has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2003, winning re-election in 2006 with 63.3 percent of the vote.

Still, he said he "would not be surprised" if state Democrats targeted his district 38A seat in 2010.

"That's the nature of the game," Elmore said.

A member of the Ways and Means Committee, Elmore said he would continue to focus on "keeping taxes low."

"We will also continue to work hard to improve farm poultry regulations," he added.

District 38A encompasses Wicomico and Somerset Counties.