Rick Weldon

Less than a week after Del. Rick Weldon (I-Frederick) announced he would be leaving the Republican Party and registering as an independent, Alderman C. Paul Smith (R-Frederick) says he wants Weldon to step down as chair of the Frederick County legislative delegation.

Smith first made the call in a letter to the Frederick County Republican Central Committee, urging them to take a strong stance on the issue.

"This action is in fact a repudiation of the Republican Party, and thus it would be a colossal act of self-destruction for the Republican Party if the County's delegation were to retain Rick as its chairman in the future," wrote Smith in an email to the Central Committee.

Below is video of Delegate Rick Weldon's announcement on Tuesday that he is switching his party affiliation to unaffiliated, from the Frederick News-Post.

Del. Rick Weldon of Frederick announced Tuesday he would be leaving the Republican Party and would register as an independent, according to The Frederick News-Post.

During a press conference at Frederick City Hall Tuesday afternoon, Weldon said he wanted to put policy in front of politics.