Richard Weldon

The AP reports:

Declaring "our political system is broken," Del. Richard Weldon said he switched his voter registration from Republican to unaffiliated because he doesn't want intensifying party politics to interfere with his policy decisions.

Weldon, who made the announcement today in Frederick, said he decided to leave the GOP after more than a year of extensive soul-searching. Weldon already has said he will not seek re-election in 2010.

Jacqui Nigh: In 2005Jacqui Nigh, the chief-of-staff to the state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) has taken a leave of absence, saying she wanted to give the senator and his wife “personal time.”

Today, the Frederick County Sheriff’s office confirmed to PolitickerMD.com that a domestic disturbance did occur at Brinkley’s home on May 30, but said further information was unavailable because there was no arrest or criminal charges filed. Brinkley acknowledged to the Frederick News Post that he and his wife are in counseling and “working on our marriage.”

In an interview, Nigh did not address whether she played a role in the disturbance.

“I’m not speaking to it at all,” she said when contacted by PolitickerMD.com.