J.B. Jennings

There's a second Republican plumber on the political scene this year.

Jim Berndt -- a member of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee -- says he's had the nickname "Jim the Plumber," not to be confused with "Joe the Plumber," for at least four years.

The latter rose in prominence during the second presidential debate after an encounter with Barack Obama on the campaign trail in Ohio. Jim Berndt, meanwhile, is a licensed master plumber who's owned "Jim's Plumbing and Heating" since 1980. He currently employees two technicians and often uses his own time to lobby on behalf of the plumbing trade.

Jim "the Plumber" Berndt says he received a slew of emails after "Joe the Plumber" hit the political scene.

"What the hell's going on with Joe the Plumber?" Berndt paraphrased one email as saying. "You're the only plumber we know."

After six and a half weeks of being cut off from the outside world, Del. J.B. Jennings (R-Harford County) says the national and local political landscape has changed dramatically since he left.

When Jennings returned home on Monday after military basic training for the Maryland Air National Guard, he learned of an economic crisis and an extremely close race in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

"It is like reading a history book of something that took place and realizing you were alive when it happened," Jennings told PolitickerMD.com. He says he was "cut off from the world" during training, and only allowed a single 3-to-5 minute phone call per week, which he usually missed because of the demands.

LUTHERVILLE -- If Republican Andy Harris is defeated in his bid for U.S. Congress, the state Republican Party has a problem, according to Sergio Vitale, a restaurant owner and unofficial state Senate candidate.

Harris, a state Senator from Cockeysville, is currently running against Democrat Frank Kratovil, the Queen Anne's County state Attorney, for Maryland's open 1st District seat. Vitale -- who has his sights on Harris's state Senate seat should he win -- says it's Harris's race to lose.

"If Andy doesn't get elected in that District then I think the party's got a problem," Vitale told PolitickerMD.com at the 42nd District Republican Club's Second Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Friday. Vitale suggests the District was "Parrismandered" to the GOP's advantage. "That's it. That's the last Alamo for the Republican Party."

BALTIMORE -- A Nov. 10 meeting to nominate state Sen. Andy Harris's successor, should Harris be elected to Congress, was moved to put more focus on getting Harris elected in the first place and not because of committee bylaws, according to Mike Geppi, chair of the Harford County Republican Central Committee.

If Harris (R-Cockeysville) defeats state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) to win the 1st Congressional District seat, the Harford and Baltimore County Republican Central Committees will be required to elect a successor.

Chris Cavey -- chair of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee -- said Monday the delay had little to do with Harris's prospects. Rather, Cavey argued, it was to ensure that the process goes smoothly to avoid any controversy with the rules and bylaws.

If Harris is elected, the rules state that a notice must go out 10 days prior to the interview, according to Cavey. He said it "would be a little unseemly" to advertise before election night.

Geppi's reasoning for the move, however, differed a bit from Cavey's.

BALTIMORE -- Former Del. Al Redmer (R-Baltimore County) wants Andy Harris's state Senate seat, but not as much as he wants to see Harris in Congress.

Should Harris (R-Cockeysville) defeat state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) in the 1st Congressional District race, the Harford and Baltimore County Republican Central Committees will be required to elect a successor to Harris in the state Senate, and Redmer says he's the guy for the job.

"I've been there done that," Redmer told PolitickerMD.com at a fundraiser for his unofficial campaign Tuesday morning. "I've got the background and experience to lead immediately upon taking office."

Redmer says getting Harris elected to Congress is his top priority.

Should state. Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) defeat state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) to win the 1st Congressional District seat in November, the Harford and Baltimore County Republican Central Committees will be required to elect a successor.

The original plan was to confirm Harris's replacement on Nov. 10, however, this is no longer the case. While the meeting itself is not being canceled, the motion to decide on a successor is.

Chris Cavey, chair of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, says the delay has little to do with Harris's prospects. Rather, it is to ensure that the process goes smoothly.

Sergio Vitale helped state Sen. Andy Harris's congressional campaign raise over $30,000 in a single night.

Vitale hosted a hybrid fundraiser at his private home in West Ocean City on Monday along with the chair of Perdue Farms - Jim Perdue. Guest's who paid over $1,000 a ticket to a fundraiser at Purdue's  home were able to attend a VIP reception at Vitale's residence.

A candidate in the unofficial race for Maryland's 7th District state senate seat, which would open if its current occupant wins in his bid for the U.S. Congress, is calling for a state-level efficiency study.

Former Del. Al Redmer (R-Baltimore County) made the remarks Monday during a discussion with Comptroller Peter Franchot (D-Takoma Park) on his weekly radio show.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican Pat McDonough decided to drop out of the unofficial 7th District state Senate race because of his opponents' fundraising strength, according to one of the campaigns still in the hunt.

Sergio Vitale's campaign advisor, John Fiastro, said his candidate's campaign is the real reason McDonough changed his plans, rather than McDonough's stated reason, which was trying to become the Baltimore County executive.

"The strength of his fundraising effort and the strength of his campaign -- despite what McDonough says -- is the reason why McDonough backed out of the race," Fiastro said in an interview with PolitickerMD.com.

McDonough, a Republican delegate from Middle River dropped his plans to seek the potentially open Senate seat on Tuesday. The seat would open up if state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) wins his race for the U.S. House.

Three contenders are left for the seat without McDonough: Former Del. Al Redmer (R), Del. J.B. Jennings (R) and restaurant owner Sergio Vitale (R).

McDonough has thrown his support behind Jennings, saying "it's practical to promote the delegate to the Senator's seat."

Vitale announced his interest for Harris' seat during a fundraiser in early August, which he says brought in $28,000 to his campaign war chest.

"Sergio was gonna come to the convention - decided against it. Decided to stay in Maryland. Continue fundraising. The goal is in October - the goal - is to have a six figure bank account," said Fiastro. "If he becomes Senator and J.B. retains his seat, we have two very strong leaders, very strong young leaders in the district and that's what we're excited about."

McDonough called the claim ridiculous.

Del. Pat McDonough (R-Middle River) has dropped his plans to seek Maryland's 7th District state Senate seat which would open up if state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) wins his race for the U.S. House.

McDonough says he "never had an overwhelming desire to be in the state Senate" and that his "county executive exploratory committee is growing by leaps and bounds," according to Explore Baltimore County.

Harris is currently running against state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) for Maryland's 1st Congressional District seat. If Harris wins, the 7th District seat would be open, and Harris' successor would have to be approved by the central committees of the respective counties in the district to fill the empty spot.

In May, McDonough told PolitickerMD.com that he was very interested in seeking the office of Baltimore County executive as well. Democrat Jim Smith, the current county executive, is bound by term limits and cannot seek re-election in 2010.