After three rounds of balloting tonight, Laura Neuman, the CEO of
the HoCo Economic Development Authority was elected to fill out the remainder
of John Leopolds term as Anne Arundel county exec.
The victory stunned many AA politico observers. Shortly
after the vote Allison Bourg, a reporter for the Capital Gazette, tweeted “I
think it's fair to say no one saw this coming.”
The top three candidates were thought to be Delegate Steve Shuh, former first lady Kendel Ehrlich and interim exec, John Hammond. Ehrlich didn't even make it to the final four.
Neuman won by sweeping the three Dem votes on the council
while three of the four Repubs split their votes between Shuh, Hammond and Annapolis Alderman David Cordle. The lone Repub voting for Laura was council chair Jerry Walker.
Divide and conquer...it's an old cliche but this evening it served Laura well...
