Harry Hughes

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) issued a statement today in remembrance of former state Agriculture Secretary Wayne A. Cawley, Jr., who passed away Monday at the age of 84.

"The death of Wayne Cawley, Jr., represents a great loss to the agriculture community of our state," O'Malley said. "Dedicating more than ten years of loyal service to the people of Maryland, former Secretary Cawley demonstrated his love of farming not only through his career, but also with his craft as a grain farmer."

Thoughts On The Presidential Race

Former Gov. Harry R. Hughes said today that the race for the Democratic presidential nomination would remain “neck and neck” between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama until at least Feb. 5, also known as 'Tsunami Tuesday' when 22 states hold contests.

With Sen. Joe Biden out of the race, the former governor is solidly backing Clinton, citing her experience and intelligence.

In November, he told PolitickerMD.com that he was having trouble deciding between Biden and Clinton

Hughes also expressed fondness for Sen. Barack Obama, saying he had “star quality,” and was “a good man.”

The Baltimore Examiner covers District 2 Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger's press conference yesterday, announcing $10 million in federal funding for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

The money was part of an omnibus spending measure passed by Congress and recently signed into law by President Bush, Ruppersberger said while standing on a deck outside the foundation's headquarters overlooking the Bay in Annapolis.

One of the groups receiveing funding is the Harry Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology Inc., which will use the money to research "biofuels, forest-land conservation and water-supply protection, including the Bay's watershed."

Former Gov. Hughes, chair of the group, was on hand to congratulate Ruppersberger for his leadership.

Ex-Gov. Harry Hughes says it's either Clinton and BidenFormer Gov. Harry R. Hughes said he has narrowed his choice of Democratic presidential candidates to two: Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Hughes told PolitickerMD.com that he has “two favorites” in the race. The Maryland Democratic primary is scheduled for February 12.

The former two-term Governor, who served from 1979 to 1987, cited “experience” and “intelligence” as his reasons for looking at Clinton and Biden.