The Western Maryland delegate who used public money to pay rent to his girlfriend announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election. Three candidates rushed to fill his place.
Del. Joseph Bartlett, a Frederick County Republican, sent a press release to The Frederick News-Post saying that he would not seek a fourth term in the General Assembly. He had not immediately filed paperwork with the Board of Elections to remove his name from the ballot, but he has 10 days to do so.
In the statement, Bartlett said his decision was not based on "any recent political turbulence" or "a fear of not being re-elected." The delegate was first elected in 1998, and many had viewed him as a likely successor for the congressional seat held by his father, Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett.
Joseph Bartlett did not return several messages.
Bartlett filed paperwork seeking re-election on June 4. Several days later, the Gazette reported that he used his per diem allotments to pay rent at his girlfriend's Annapolis home. The arrangement began during a special session of the Assembly in late 2007 and continued through this year's 90-day session. The total cost for Bartlett's housing during that time was more than $30,000.
Lawmakers receive stipends to stay in hotels or houses when the Assembly is in session. They are not allowed to direct the money to family members, but ethics rules contain no prohibitions on paying significant others.
Bartlett previously stressed in an interview with The Baltimore Sun that the arrangement with his girlfriend did not cost taxpayers additional money because he would have used his stipend for rent whether he stayed with her or not.
Rumors that Bartlett would bow out had circulated for the past week, and he stoked speculation by giving evasive answers when asked about his future. In a recent text message to The Sun, he said he goes through a process to determine if "the fire is there" for public service before each election. The twice-divorced Bartlett had said that he and girlfriend, Katharine Hopkins, had not been romantically involved when the arrangement began. He described Hopkins as a friend with whom he stayed when the house he had previously rented was not available.
They began dating in spring 2008, he said. Hopkins has not responded to requests for comment.
Three Republican candidates filed to fill his spot Monday, the last day candidates could file: John L. "Lennie" Thompson, a Frederick County commissioner; Kelly Schultz, chair of the Frederick County Republican Central Committee; and Dino Flores, Jr., a Central Committee member.
In addition to Bartlett, the two-member district is represented by Del. Paul S. Stull, a Republican.