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Politics

Nineteen locals, including two Annapolis City Council aldermen, vie for open delegation seat vacated by Alice Cain

Capital Gazette
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Anne Arundel County Delegate Alice Cain smiles as she leaves the House Chambers on the opening of the General Assembly in Annapolis.

Anne Arundel County Delegate Alice Cain smiles as she leaves the House Chambers on the opening of the General Assembly in Annapolis. (Joshua McKerrow/Capital Gazette)

Two current Annapolis City Council members are among those running for a vacant seat in the Maryland House of Delegates that will be selected Thursday night in an all-digital interview and voting process of the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee.


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The process has been altered due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Nineteen Annapolitans have applied to fill the open District 30A seat, including an orphans court judge, a retired pastor, a defense attorney, and the two current members of the Annapolis City Council. On Thursday night, the candidates will be interviewed virtually by the committee, likely via Zoom, and the committee will deliberate and vote. The interviews and voting session will be posted later to the committee’s Facebook page.

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In lieu of a public comment period — which officials say isn’t feasible in these circumstances — members of the public are allowed to submit letters of support for candidates until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

The seat was vacated March 18 when Del. Alice Cain resigned on Sine Die due to unforeseen family circumstances. Cain honed her background as an educator to contribute seven successful amendments to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. She was also passionate about environmental policy and strengthening Maryland’s gun laws.

Under state law, the committee has 30 days from Cain’s resignation to submit a nomination to Gov. Larry Hogan, otherwise Hogan can select any eligible Democrat from District 30A to fill the seat.

The committee last engaged in this appointment process less than a year ago, following the death of Speaker Mike Busch. Of 14 community leaders, the group selected Shaneka Henson to serve as delegate. In her first session, Henson championed a policy that would close a loophole in state law and require the city of Annapolis to inspect public housing units.

Here are the applicants alongside their titles and professions when available:

  • Andrew Bowen
  • Jamie Burton, founder of women’s networking group The Founder’s House
  • Richard Ceruolo, owner of RCC Information Technology Consulting
  • Rhonda Pindell Charles, Ward 3 Annapolis alderwoman
  • Matthew Dolan, senior legal and ethics adviser at Freeh Group International Solutions
  • John Giannetti, former senator, former chairman of Annapolis Democratic Party
  • Vickie Gipson, Orphans’ Court of Anne Arundel County associate judge
  • William “Henry” Green, retired pastor of Heritage Baptist Church
  • Serpil Gulsen, former candidate for the Anne Arundel County Public School Board
  • Chrissy Holt, former Senate candidate for District 30
  • Dana Jones
  • Scott MacMullan, defense attorney, host of The Annapolis Podcast
  • Loni Moyer, daughter of former Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, former educator, owner of Garden Girls Landscaping
  • Ian Pfeiffer, former Ward 7 Annapolis alderman
  • Jacqueline Roche
  • Wayne Taylor, former Ward 4 Annapolis alderman
  • Eleanor “Elly” Tierney, Ward 1 Annapolis alderwoman
  • John Wardell, board member at City of Annapolis Police & Fire Retirement System
  • John Wells
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