Senator Richard F. Colburn - A Shore Senator

Spence adds clout to senate race
Times Record
March 29, 2006

The race for the State Senate seat from District 37 has truly begun.

With an announcement she now plans to run against Republican incumbent Richard Colbrun, Talbot county councilwoman Hilary Spence has suddenly created a contest which should be as interesting and important to local residents as the race for Governor and U.S. Senator.

Colburn, who has served the region in the State Senate and the House for 20 years, is well known in these circles - not just because he hails from Talbot County, lives in Dorchester, and works in Caroline as Federalsburg town manager; but because he also makes point of making it to as many events as possible.

No politician is more visible at local events than Colburn. People in these parts take that for granted, but his hand-shaking and frequent public appearances is down-home politics at its best.

Colburn has successfully campaigned in his two previous runs for re-election for the Senate; although he did lose and ill-advised attempt to unseat Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, 1st-District, two years ago. Now he faces a competent Democratic challenger who will surely have the full backing of her party; one who is philosophically the opposite of Colburn.

Spence has been anything but a shrinking violet in her two terms on the Talbot County Council, but still is a newcomer to a lot of locals in the other areas of the district she has yet to serve. When she previously announced she would run for the delegate slot from District 37-B which is now held by Jeannie Haddaway Riccio, she started making the round. While still not as well known as Colburn, she is better recognized than she was two months ago.

Her decision to now run for the Senate also serves to help the political cause for fellow Democrat Tim Quinn, whose first-time foray into politics now puts him head-to-head against Haddaway Riccio without having to also run against the savvy, and likely stronger candidate politically, in Spence.

What kind of contest can we expect between Spence and Colburn? Expect an unfriendly, heated one. Both candidates have already taken shots at the other - Colburn in a newspaper article which responded to rumors of Spence's challenge; Spence at last week's meeting of the Dorchester Democratic club, which effectively served as a forum for her to formally announce her decision to run against Colburn.

In a recent Letter to the Editor to the Star Democrat, Spence also addressed Colburn's "simpleton sloganeering" and "worn out labels".

In challenging Colburn, Spence will be calling to taks a man who has become somewhat of a Mid-Shore icon, calling him out for an "intelligent debate" on "very serious issues" facing the Eastern Shore.

She's challenged the right man. Nobody loves a good fight better than Colburn. Despite his recent need to defend himself on the Blackwater Development issue, Colburn has fough for years for the interets of his Eastern Shore consituents.

"I know I can't work any harder," Colburn has said. "I work as hard as I can to represent the people of the Mid-Shore."

Spence has countered back, calling the sitting senator "a great disappointment," and invoking the memory of the late Sen. Frederick C. Malkus Jr.

"This disctrict has a history of incredible representation. I want to follow in that man's footsteps.

"We can do better," she added, undoubtedly referring to Colburn.

We're sure there is more rhetoric to come.

Somewhere along the way, though, we hope and expect an interesting, invigorating race which should challenge the local knowledge of the issues and campaign stamina of both candidates.

Let's hope it remains about the issues, and not about which one can call the other more names.


Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer		Spence adds clout to senate race Times Record March 29, 2006 The race for the State Senate seat from District 37 has truly begun. With an announcement she now plans to run against Republican incumbent Richard Colbrun, Talbot county councilwoman Hilary Spence has suddenly created a contest which should be as interesting and important to local residents as the race for Governor and U.S. Senator. Colburn, who has served the region in the State Senate and the House for 20 years, is well known in these circles - not just because he hails from Talbot County, lives in Dorchester, and works in Caroline as Federalsburg town manager; but because he also makes point of making it to as many events as possible. No politician is more visible at local events than Colburn. People in these parts take that for granted, but his hand-shaking and frequent public appearances is down-home politics at its best. Colburn has successfully campaigned in his two previous runs for re-election for the Senate; although he did lose and ill-advised attempt to unseat Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, 1st-District, two years ago. Now he faces a competent Democratic challenger who will surely have the full backing of her party; one who is philosophically the opposite of Colburn. Spence has been anything but a shrinking violet in her two terms on the Talbot County Council, but still is a newcomer to a lot of locals in the other areas of the district she has yet to serve. When she previously announced she would run for the delegate slot from District 37-B which is now held by Jeannie Haddaway Riccio, she started making the round. While still not as well known as Colburn, she is better recognized than she was two months ago. Her decision to now run for the Senate also serves to help the political cause for fellow Democrat Tim Quinn, whose first-time foray into politics now puts him head-to-head against Haddaway Riccio without having to also run against the savvy, and likely stronger candidate politically, in Spence. What kind of contest can we expect between Spence and Colburn? Expect an unfriendly, heated one. Both candidates have already taken shots at the other - Colburn in a newspaper article which responded to rumors of Spence's challenge; Spence at last week's meeting of the Dorchester Democratic club, which effectively served as a forum for her to formally announce her decision to run against Colburn. In a recent Letter to the Editor to the Star Democrat, Spence also addressed Colburn's "simpleton sloganeering" and "worn out labels". In challenging Colburn, Spence will be calling to taks a man who has become somewhat of a Mid-Shore icon, calling him out for an "intelligent debate" on "very serious issues" facing the Eastern Shore. She's challenged the right man. Nobody loves a good fight better than Colburn. Despite his recent need to defend himself on the Blackwater Development issue, Colburn has fough for years for the interets of his Eastern Shore consituents. "I know I can't work any harder," Colburn has said. "I work as hard as I can to represent the people of the Mid-Shore." Spence has countered back, calling the sitting senator "a great disappointment," and invoking the memory of the late Sen. Frederick C. Malkus Jr. "This disctrict has a history of incredible representation. I want to follow in that man's footsteps. "We can do better," she added, undoubtedly referring to Colburn. We're sure there is more rhetoric to come. Somewhere along the way, though, we hope and expect an interesting, invigorating race which should challenge the local knowledge of the issues and campaign stamina of both candidates. Let's hope it remains about the issues, and not about which one can call the other more names.