The Baltimore Sun
Maryland election administrator Linda Lamone to retire after 26 years
Linda Lamone, Maryland’s longtime election administrator who some officials dubbed the state’s election chief “for life,” will call it quits this year after more than two decades in the post.
Lamone, 80, who was named administrator in 1997 during the administration of Democratic Gov. Parris Glendening, announced her departure Wednesday during a Maryland State Board of Elections meeting. She will step down around Sept. 1.
“I loved this job. It was not always easy, but through Republican and Democratic administrations, through COVID, cyberthreats, redistricting, changing election dates and changing voter behavior, we delivered for the voters of Maryland,” said Lamone, appearing from her home office during a virtual meeting of the board.
The State Board of Elections, whose five members are selected by the governor, will pick a replacement. Their choice will need confirmation by the state Senate. Under the proposed state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, the position’s salary range is $120,000 to $166,364.
Lamone made $163,000 in 2022, according to Adam Abadir, a spokesman for the state comptroller’s office.
Her departure comes after years of squelching attempts to oust her. In 2004, after months of pressure from Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the state board suspended Lamone and voted behind closed doors to remove her for “incompetence, misconduct or other good cause.”
Democratic leaders rose to Lamone’s defense, calling the move “a blatant abuse of political power.”
Lamone survived the attempted coup, winning a temporary injunction to keep her in office after a judge ruled that removing her ahead of the 2004 presidential election would create chaos. A mediator ultimately brokered a compromise that kept Lamone in the position.
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https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-maryland-election-director-lamone-retire-20230329-yrg7qxxugrcpfdejj55zwaq4te-story.html