Hagen Files for Re-election in 2010

Originally posted in Gazette, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009
by Sherry Greenfield
http://www.gazette.net/stories/12172009/frednew160746_32557.php

Kai J. Hagen used the social networking Web site Facebook to announce his candidacy for re-election to the Frederick Board of County Commissioners in 2010.

On Dec. 11, Hagen (D) wrote on Facebook that he filed his paperwork with the Frederick County Board of Elections. He is the first candidate to file for county commissioner for the 2010 election.

“I opened a bank account, got a P.O. Box number and filed the paperwork,” Hagen said in an interview Monday.

Candidates wishing to run in 2010 have until July 6 to file paperwork with the Board of Elections. The primary election is on Sept. 14 and general election is Nov. 2.

Hagen, 51, first ran for commissioner in 2006, garnering enough votes to come in third on the five-member board.

During his first campaign, Hagen ran on a platform that promised to reopen the New Market Region Plan and overturn much of the new growth approved by previous commissioners.

Two years later, Hagen and the board kept that promise and unanimously adopted a new and updated plan of controlled growth for New Market and its surrounding region.

“We did it and I’m very proud of that,” Hagen said. “Overall we did a fantastic job with that, by trying to preserve land. That will be a big legacy of this board and a major issue I campaigned on.”

Commissioner Charles A. Jenkins (R) has already announced he is running for state delegate in District 3B. Commissioners Jan H. Gardner (D), David P. Gray (R), John “Lennie” Thompson Jr. (R) have yet to formally announce their election plans.

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.