About 2,100 votes separated the two. Throughout the Democratic campaign, Leonard sought to bring scrutiny to Shellenbergers record in office. Shellenberger said that older kits are currently being tested even in cases where it wasnt stranger-on-stranger. Thus far, 400 older kits have been tested and 300 more are on deck. Review of sentences is another issue. They cannot be called upon to live the rest of their lives unable to move on from the horror they lived through in the loss of their loved one or the crime perpetrated on them. No Republican has challenged Shellenberger in the general election since 2010. We established diversion programs for drug possession cases which seeks treatment rather than conviction. Haynes said he would neither solicit campaign donations from staff nor ask them to work the polls. He said hed hire ethics counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states attorneys do their best work. In one meeting, according to the woman, who is Black, a prosecutor cited a past sexual assault case where the victim also was a Black woman. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. Of the cases where prosecutors brought charges, convictions were secured in 64% of the cases. Had we sent that mailer two weeks earlier, I probably would have walked away the victor. Vote-counting stretched on for more than a week because of the large number of mail-in ballots cast in Marylands primary election. Longtime Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenbergers record on handling sexual assault cases is in the spotlight as he seeks a fifth term as the countys top prosecutor. No one thought we could take on a 16-year incumbent but look what we accomplished, said Leonard. What's behind Baltimore County crime and how can the State's Attorney's office help to address those root causes? The public perception of the criminal justice system. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. A tough-on-crime Democrat, Shellenberger will square up against the young, self-described progressive attorney and secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party at the polls in July. No additional details on the reasons for declined criminal charges were provided. For example, many people are required to get drug treatment during probation. Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Baltimore County. With a larger staff, Haynes said, the office would be able to better cooperate with police in building cases and cut down on postponements. Shellenberger is of the mindset that all laws should be enforced. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. Since his election, Mr. Shellenberger has fought for justice, fairness, and accountability in the criminal justice system. But the results took more than a week and initially Leonard led the 16-year incumbent by more than 800 votes. Haynes described Baltimore County as sort of a regional firewall that can improve the safety of people in the city and surrounding counties if it arrests and convicts criminals. Imagine any other victim of a crime where we would say, in order to capture the real bad guy, we need to lock you up, put handcuffs on you and make you stand in front of a judge.. The county police and fire unions backed Shellenberger, while Leonard won endorsements from local Democratic clubs, progressive groups and other labor organizations, including the county teachers union. www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. He wanted to engage with those directly impacted by the failings of the justice system, such as domestic violence victims and people returning home after incarceration. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. Riley said hes seen firsthand how elected officials can become stale.. If Leonard clinches the Democratic nomination, hell have ousted one of the most prominent voices on law enforcement and criminal justice in Annapolis. The race was marked by heavy outside spending by progressive political action committees that sought to unseat Shellenberger. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. In the countys southwest corner, there was a three-way Democratic race for the seat now held by Tom Quirk of Oella, who is stepping down. On election night, it looked like Shellenberger could be unseated after 15 years in office. Published on: July 20, 2022 12:12 AM EDT|Updated on: July 22, 2022 6:28 PM EDT. As I have told you, I do not believe we can prove your case, he said. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. Name Party Early Voting I dont find that acceptable, but that is the reality, Shellenberger said. I guess the easiest way to put it is, in this instance if it aint broke, dont fix it, said Spencer, about his support for Shellenberger. Early voting ends Nov. 3. State's Attorney (Vote for One) This table may scroll left to right depending on the screen size of your device. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers Baltimore Sun Media May 17, 2022 at 3:43 pm Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger Democratic 63 Towson, Baltimore County State's Attorney for Baltimore. Olszewski had a wide lead in initial returns. - University of Baltimore, School of Law, 1984 - Loyola College, 1981, - State's Attorney for Baltimore County since 2007 - Won election in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. He supports diverting low-level offenses out of the criminal justice system and wants to conduct a racial equity audit examining prosecutorial practices. And I think he has the experience and the background to be a good states attorney., He said he supports term limits and believes that a change in leadership in these offices is necessary to bring in new ideas and perspectives. Shellenberger said he has tried to run his office in a nonpolitical way. We came up short of victory, but we started a real conversation for change, said Leonard, speaking to reporters at the county Board of Elections building. Shellenberger has said the office doesnt collect data around the number of criminal prosecutions, convictions or victim and perpetrator demographics making it challenging for observers to analyze outcomes. Assistant attorney general and then trial attorney who handled insurance defense work for the same agency under different names, the State Accident Fund, Injured Workers Insurance Fund, and currently Chesapeake Employers Insurance, from 1987-2006. He also wants to examine the juvenile justice system. Shellenberger must defend his office in a jury trial in September against allegations that it and police detectives violated a womans First Amendment rights by trying to stop her from filing criminal charges against men she said raped her. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. This is a big job and I certainly think that Ive proven over the years that Im up to continuing to do it, said Shellenberger. County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., who was elected in 2018, faced little competition in the Democratic race. Amanda Rodriguez, the executive director of the nonpartisan advocacy group TurnAround Inc., said there absolutely has to be a change in how sexual assaults are prosecuted in Baltimore County, regardless of who wins the election. Leonard said that incarceration for drug offenses and prostitution doesnt work. Campaign website: www.haynesforbaltimorecounty.com, www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. One plaintiff, Anna Borkowski, told the magazine that Shellenberger sent three members of the Baltimore County Police Department to her grandmothers house in Baltimore City, which is out of their jurisdiction, to tell her to stop attempting to file charges against her assailants. And recent attack ads against Shellenberger airing on televisions and mailed to homes have focused on sexual assaults. Those that don't or choose not to must be appropriately addressed. We need people with new ideas that are gonna change the status quo, which is not really working, Matey said after casting her vote at Catonsville High School Tuesday afternoon. Juris doctor from University of Baltimore of School of Law in 1984. I have done that throughout my term as State's Attorney. All Rights Reserved. It appears incumbent Democratic Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger could lose his seat to well funded progressive challenger Robbie Leonard. The final unofficial votes were Shellenberger with 44,962 and Leonard with 42,847. Currently, he is trailing Republican challenger Alison M. Healey by nearly 9,500 votes. The way that we can prevent it from happening again is to get good sentences, in the area of violent crime. As precinct ballots were tallied, Leonard maintained the marginal lead of 860 votes over Shellenberger, who had gone unchallenged in the primary race for his seat since the "tough on crime" prosecutor was . Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has survived an aggressive primary challenge in a race that offered voters contrasting visions of what a top prosecutors priorities should be. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. HUNT VALLEY Baltimore County's incumbent state's attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. While some dismissed Leonard as a long-shot candidate and were stunned by the initial results, other observers believed the contest would be close, especially toward the end of the campaign. Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. I have spent the majority of my career in public service, serving 14 years as a senior assistant state's attorney in the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, and now working in the . Shellenberger painted Leonard, who has never been a prosecutor, as unprepared for the office. He unseated the two-term incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, in the Democratic primary and did not face a challenger in the general election. News you can trust. (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. Mr. Shellenberger was born and raised in Baltimore County. Alternate judge on Employees Compensation Appeals Board in the U.S. Department of Labor from 2006-2016. Robbie Leonard continued to hold a narrow lead Wednesday of 860 votes over 15-year incumbent Scott Shellenberger for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County State's Attorney. He plans to hold a rally in Patriots Plaza in Towson at 2 p.m. WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore The State Board of Elections provides all eligible citizens of the State convenient access to voter registration; provides all registered voters accessible locations in which they may exercise their right to vote, to ensure uniformity of election practices; to promote fair and equitable elections; and to maintain registration records, campaign fund reports, and other election-related data accurately and in a form that is accessible to the public. Haynes said he wants to add six to 10 more assistant states attorneys and would serve as an advocate for the criminal justice system if it needed additional judges or police officers. ]. The articles title is a quote from Leonard about mishandled sexual assault cases in the county: We dont know how many women are out there like that.. In the state's attorney race, incumbent Scott Shellenberger has maintained a lead in recent days over challenger Robbie Leonard as mail-in votes are tallied. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. On election day I got the most votes. We must be attuned to the issues from both the perspective of the man on the street and the officer on the beat. The public deserves to know that the issues will be addressed with that promptness. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor the federal, state and local elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on Nov. 6, 2018. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. States attorney, he said, is not a position to learn on the job. Were going to lose if we play defense, Haynes said. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. I worked to remove a requirement of "resistance" by victims of a sexual assault. In Gubernatorial Election years, Baltimore County voters will elect the following: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Comptroller; Attorney General; U.S. Representative (every two years) State Senators; State Delegates; County Executive; County Council; Judges of the Circuit Court (if vacancy exists) My priority in running for states attorney is having a fair, transparent and accountable criminal justice system in the States Attorneys Office things that we dont have here, Leonard said. . Shellenberger, who once led the division that prosecutes sex crimes, described sexual assaults as probably the most difficult cases for prosecutors in an interview with The Baltimore Sun about his campaign. I have fought over all my years as State's Attorney to be responsive to all victims. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Hes always opposing legislation being put in by Democrats.. Others vying for the GOP nomination were Henry Ciezkowski, Thilo August Albert Gluck, A. Scott Pappas and Kimberley Stansbury. I am running to continue our efforts to protect all of the citizens of Baltimore County from crime. And it recommended partnerships with organizations that have expertise and considering including victim advocates in some interviews and charging discussions. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. While most attention Tuesday focused on the Republican and Democratic Gubernatorial races and the Baltimore City State's Attorney's race, others were heating up. Leonard portrayed Shellenberger as out of step with todays Democrats, someone who hadnt changed with the times. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. By signing up for alerts, I agree to The Baltimore Banner's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy and to receive news alerts and other communications from The Baltimore Banner. But when counting of mail-in ballots started later that week, Shellenberger closed the gap and then gained ground. In elected, Haynes said, hed make every possible effort to work with the U.S. Attorneys Office and federal law enforcement on prosecutions involving gangs, drugs and illegal guns. Election Day is Nov. 8. dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com Meet the candidates for Baltimore County state's attorney Scott Shellenberger Age: 63 Residence: Towson Political party: Democratic Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. A judge ruled in a hearing on Tuesday that the perjury and mortgage fraud trial for former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby will remain in Baltimore despite attempts to move it. The woman disputed Shellenbergers suggestion that her story changed and said he told her last year he believed her allegation because she was consistent.. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said prosecutors she worked with in the years since her assaults made her feel worthless and like she wasnt human, including mocking and blaming her. For decades, the crime rate has been decreasing in the United States. Pat Young was ahead of candidates Paul Dongarra and Danielle Nicole Singley in early returns. Sign up to get the Maryland Matters Memo in your inbox every morning. A county task force formed in 2019 to examine sexual assault investigations identified the topic as an issue for the office, which includes Shellenberger and prosecutors. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Haynes led the primary Tuesday night. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The voters of Baltimore County deserve that change. We will see with time if the appropriate balance has been reached. Printer Friendly Version. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The criminals havent scored any more points, he later added. Juris doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1981. The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. I tend to be more moderate, said Clement, who moved back to Towson late last year, but there are good aspects to the progressive agenda of some chief prosecutors to incarcerate fewer nonviolent, low-level crimes. He said at the time that law enforcement has limited resources, and often a rape suspects identity is not in question because the victim and perpetrator know each other. Past experience: Law clerk from 1982-1985 in the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office, assistant states attorney from 1985-1993. There is no Democratic candidate running for State's Attorney in Harford County. The prosecutors in this office have done a great job to be sensitive to all victims. Especially for State's Attorney in Baltimore and Harford Counties. Find us in a community near year. I have worked during my entire tenure as State's Attorney to run an office that applies the prosecution of crime even-handedly regardless of race or social position. Early voting ends Nov. 3. Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report. Tilghman said Shellenberger has not shown fairness to people of color, pointing to factors including his stance on state juvenile justice reform legislation. 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