Hartman

Kris Heiser

Matt Crisafulli

By Brian Gilliland, Associate Editor

(July 19, 2018) Nothing changed but the numbers as the Worcester County Board of Elections certified the results of the June 26 primary earlier this month, leaving all of the previously announced winners in place, as voters chose a new sheriff and top prosecutor, and narrowed the field for November’s Election Day.

Maryland has a closed primary, meaning that only registered members of a political party may vote in that party’s election, with the side effect of disenfranchising independents or races where a candidate is running unopposed.

Gov. Larry Hogan was unopposed and won the Republican nod, with Democratic challenger Ben Jealous taking Worcester by earning almost 1,100 of the approximately 2,900 votes cast in this race.

In the Senate, Ben Cardin tallied about 2,400 of the almost 3,100 votes cast, with Chelsea Manning coming in second with 210 votes.

Although Chris Chaffee won Worcester by about 240 votes, Cardin will face Republican Tony Campbell in the general election.

Jesse Colvin similarly ran away with the Democratic vote to face Rep. Andy Harris (R-1) in November, gaining almost 1,400 of the nearly 3,000 votes cast.

Harris once again made quick work of his Republican primary foes by garnering about 86 percent of the vote here.

Matt Crisafulli will succeed Reggie Mason as Worcester County Sheriff, as he defeated a field of four that included longtime public servant Mike McDermott, retired OCPD detective Scott Bernal and security officer George Truitt.

Crisafulli and McDermott were the frontrunners, and it came down to the wire as Crisafulli earned 2,341 votes to the former State Delegate, mayor and police chief’s 2,217.

State’s Attorney’s races have been historically close, and this one was no exception with former Wicomico County Assistant State’s Attorney Kris Heiser set to replace Interim State’s Attorney Bill McDermott by a margin of less than 100 votes.

Heiser totaled 2,684 to McDermott’s 2,548.

To replace Mary Beth Carozza, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Jim Mathias in November, there were four Republican candidates in the mix during the primary, with one-term Ocean City Councilman Wayne Hartman edging out Republican operative Joe Schanno 1,667 to 1,433.

Incumbent Bud Church overcame Gary Millhoff 667-213 and will face one-term Berlin councilman Zackery Tyndall later this year.

Terri Westcott won out over two challengers to face Nicole Caudell for Worcester County Register of Wills in the general election.

Finally, Linda Hess, Mike Diffendal and Cheryl Jacobs edged out John Quinn for the three Judge of Orphan’s Court positions available.

In total, 30,897 registered voters turned out for the Worcester primary with 16,706 Republicans and 13,981 Democrats participating.