Harford County's newest judge - who is also the first woman and first African-American on the Circuit Court bench there - was leading in early returns last night as she sought to be elected to a full term or at least advance to the general election.
Circuit Judge Angela M. Eaves, who was appointed in December, took a commanding early lead in the Democratic primary and held a slim advantage in the Republican race, with about a third of precincts reporting.
Eaves would have to win the Democratic and Republican primaries to win a 15-year term on the bench. If that does not happen, the winners of the two primaries will compete in the November general election.
Among Eaves' challengers was Charles F. Wagner, a 54-year-old Bel Air attorney who had the support of the county Republican Party and was within a dozen votes of the incumbent in the early going in that party's race.
The race in Harford County was one of three contested ones in local elections last night.
In Carroll County, six candidates were seeking to advance to the general election, when two seats on the county school board will be filled.
In the school board race in Howard County, six of the seven candidates will move on to the general election in November, when voters will select three candidates to four-year terms.
The other two candidates in the Harford County judicial race - Bel Air lawyer H. Edward Andrews III, 60, and Aberdeen lawyer Steven J. Scheinin, 61 - trailed in early returns in both party primaries.
Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed Eaves, 48, of Havre de Grace after the county's Judicial Nominating Commission deemed her one of the three lawyers who were "highly qualified."
Before her appointment, Eaves was a Harford County District Court judge for seven years.
Campaign literature sent by Wagner's campaign showed a photo of Eaves between former Gov. Parris N. Glendening and Gov. Martin O'Malley and read: "Do you trust their judgment?" It accused Eaves of being "hand-picked by Governor O'Malley, the man who increased your taxes."
Eaves said last night, "I felt there were candidates who tried to make it political. But voters don't expect judges to engage in partisan politics. It's not something judges should think about."
Wagner opened a law practice in Bel Air in 1992 after working for years in the boilermakers union while attending evening college and law school.
In the nonpartisan Carroll County school board primary, two members of the board were seeking to be among the four top vote-getters, who will move on to the general election. Leading the race, with about a third of precincts counted, was challenger Jennifer Seidel, 36, of Mount Airy, an independent contractor who writes lesson plans and other teaching materials.
Incumbent Cynthia L. Foley, 51, of Westminster was running second. Barry D. Potts, 56, of Manchester was third. Jeffrey L. Morse, 53, of Taneytown, who was appointed to the board last summer, was fourth.
In Howard County, incumbent Janet Siddiqui, a 46-year-old pediatrician from Clarksville, was the top vote-getter with about a third of precincts reporting. Diane Butler, 53, vice president of the St. John's Lane Community Association from Ellicott City, was running second.
Ellen Flynn Giles, 57, of Scaggsville, the current vice chairman of the school board, was third, and Allen Dyer, 60, a computer consultant, lawyer and blacksmith from Ellicott City, was close behind.madison.park@baltsun.com arin.gencer@baltsun.com john-john.williams@baltsun.com
LOCAL RACES
(Full election results were announced too late for inclusion in this edition. Please go to baltimoresun.com for updated information.)
Carroll County
Board of Education(top 4 in total ballots go to general election to compete for 2 seats)
Cynthia L. Foley * 3686
Jeffrey L. Morse* 2164
Draper S. Phelps 407
Barry D. Potts 2301
Jennifer Seidel 4017
Jeff Sheehan 1462
16 of 46 precincts reporting
Harford County
Circuit Court Judge (one winner for each primary)
Democratic
H. Edward Andrews III 772
Angela M. Eaves* 4960
Steven J. Scheinin 350
Charles F. Wagner 1551
23 of 72 precincts reporting
Republican
H. Edward Andrews III 1004
Angela M. Eaves* 3694
Steven J. Scheinin 435
Charles F. Wagner 3337
23 of 72 precincts reporting
Howard County
Board of Education(top 6 in total ballots go to general election to compete for 3 seats)
Diane Butler 8149
Faenita Dilworth 2754
Allen Dyer 7569
Ellen Flynn Giles* 7758
Betsy Grater 4840
Janet Siddiqui* 8309
Di Zou 4206
40 of 110 precincts reporting* indicates incumbent