Impallaria, McComas voted back as Harford delegation chair and vice chair

It was a relatively smooth start for the Maryland General Assembly's first day back in session.

During the Harford County delegation's organizational meeting last Wednesday, Del. Rick Impallaria, a Republican representing District 7, was voted back as the chair, with Del. Susan McComas, a Republican representing Bel Air District 35B, elected as his vice-chair. Both votes were unanimous.

Del. Mary-Dulany James was the only delegate absent from the meeting, Impallaria noted.

"Everyone was happy the delegation worked well as a team last year," Impallaria, who filed Wednesday to run for U.S. Congress against Sen. Nancy Jacobs, said. "I look forward to leading the delegation into the direction the delegation should go in."

In an email, McComas commented that "every member of the delegation is looking forward to representing the citizens of Harford County during this session, as well as during the interim."

The unanimous vote was far less dramatic than in previous years.

In 2009, McComas was removed as chair during a hastily-called meeting. Del. J.B. Jennings was then elected and re-elected in 2010.

Impallaria and McComas have held the chair and vice-chairman seat, respectively, since last session.

In addition to the vote, the legislators had "some discussion" on how to proceed with the Harford Community College-Towson building issue, he continued, adding that meetings have been set up on how to resolve that matter.

Impallaria previously said that obtaining funding for the college's Towson University building is a top priority for Harford County's delegates and senators.

As far as the Maryland General Assembly coming back into session that day, Impallaria said: "It's so early that, truthfully, nothing happens."

He described the meeting of the state's legislators as "technical business" and "basic stuff that isn't very interesting," noting that no bills were on the floor and there was no debate.

"Right now the county executive [David Craig] and the county council haven't brought any bills to us that they're asking to be introduced," Impallaria said about Harford's delegation. "It's pretty much the same with the [Harford County] state's attorney, Joe Cassilly's office."

Although he said the delegation will probably have "a light year," he said Gov. Martin O'Malley's agenda "does not fit with the feeling of the citizens of Harford County," referring to possible increases in the fuel and "flush" taxes. Impallaria also said that same-sex marriage is a "top issue" for O'Malley.

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