Incumbents of both parties in several Anne Arundel County courthouse posts were on the way to keeping their posts last night, all of them leading with about 85 percent of the 195 precincts reporting, all were leading last night.
Clerk of the Court Robert P. Duckworth, a staunch Republican seeking his third term, had a 2-to-1 lead over little-known Democratic challenger Michael J. Serabian Sr.
Serabian conceded before 10 p.m. "We ran the cleanest race," the business consultant said. "He's got it won," he said of his opponent. Nevertheless, Serabian noted there was a bit of unfinished business between them.
"Bob Duckworth promised to buy me lunch, and I'm going to hold him to it," he said.
Duckworth, who made nearly as strong a showing four years ago, said he was delighted by the results.
Candidates attributed the ballots cast for Republican hopefuls in these courthouse races to the strong coattails of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., popular in the county.
Sheriff George F. Johnson IV, a former county police sergeant and darling of the county's Democratic leadership, held nearly 55 percent of the vote to about 45 percent captured by Republican challenger, John E. Moran IV, a University of Maryland Baltimore County mountain bike officer.
"I am just so elated that the people of this county, even with the Republican tide that took place, chose to go beyond that for me," Johnson said.
Johnson campaigned on what he called a record of expanding and professionalizing the sheriff's department.
Moran did not concede.
"It's quite amazing, that he could spend a quarter of a million dollars and get only 54 percent of the vote to my $4,000," Moran said, vowing to run again in four years if he lost.
State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee, who teamed with Johnson for much of the campaign, was eyeing a fourth term. He led his opponent, Michael W. Burns, a Republican activist and strategist who had been turned out of his delegate's seat four years ago, by about 52 percent to 48 percent.
Burns said he believed prosecutor's office needed fresh ideas and a stronger target on gun and drug crimes. But Weathersbee countered by noting that Burns had scant experience handling criminal cases and none managing a large office.
With six candidates running for three positions, two incumbent judges of the Orphans' Court were considered likely to return to their part-time positions. Gail J. Schaffer, chief judge, was seeking a third term and Nancy C. Phelps a second term. Both are Republicans. A third Republican, Gordon H. Witherspoon, also was leading the three Democrats.
Two sitting judges, Nancy Davis-Loomis and Paul A. Hackner, faced no opposition for 15-year terms on the Circuit Court bench.
A fifth term was in the offing for Register of Wills George M. Nutwell Jr. For the second election in a row, he ran unopposed.