Howard County Council Now Under GOP Control. Rakes (D) votes w/ GOP

[nickshepDEM]

The Howard County Council elected its first Republican chairman in seven years, in a 3 to 2 vote last night that saw one Democrat switch allegiance and throw his support to the GOP.

With the help of Democrat David A. Rakes (D-East Columbia), council member Christopher J. Merdon (R-Northeast County) assumed the one-year chairmanship, ousting the incumbent

The leadership change marked the first time in the council’s history that a member of the minority party was elected to the top leadership position. There are two Republicans and three Democrats on the County Council.

“This is a big night for the Howard County GOP,” said Howard Rensin, chairman of the county Republican Party. He said the county GOP was especially pleased about Rakes’s support because he is the only African American on the council. Rensin called Rakes’s vote a “good omen” for the GOP.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/05/AR2005120502349.html

Here is what the county's democratic party chairman had to say about Rakes vote...

"But the county’s Democratic Party chairman, Wendy Fiedler, said Rakes, in voting as he did, effectively “ended his career tonight with the Democratic Party.” Rakes is seeking reelection next year."

[Polecat]

1. Interesting

That will really help Merdon in his quest to become County Executive. Is there an underlying motive in all of this besides the ethics allegation and support for his "smoking bill"?