Republicans In The News
Senator Haines Endorses Joe Getty for State Senate
April 30, 2010
by Dave Greenwalt
Reprinted with permission from the Northern News, April 29, 2010
HAINES - 20 AND DONE
Larry Haines announced earlier this week that he will not seek a sixth term as the State Senator for District 5. The conservative Republican has served the residents of Carroll and Baltimore counties through three different legislative boundaries since first being elected in 1990.
Haines, 72, is the chairman of Carroll's legislative delegation and reminded all that he will continue to serve until his current term expires Jan. 11, 2011. He stated in a press release that he had been "weighing his decision for the past year." He cited that his wife Jane's three year fight with Lyme disease was also a factor in his decision to step down.
Haines' decision throws the Republican Primary race wide open. Haines has already endorsed former delegate Joe Getty. Getty served as a delegate, 1995 to 2003. A resident of Manchester, where he also operates a Main Street law office, Getty announced Tuesday that he is entering the race for Haines' vacated seat.
Getty, 58, and his wife Susan are the parents of six children. He served as a policy director to former Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. during his 2003-07 term. Most recently he has served as counsel to the Republican - Senate Caucus. As a contributor he writes the popular "Through the Years" column for the Northern News.
Haines said he will miss the senate and the camaraderie of his fellow legislators. "Jane and I will be married 50 years this March, so I told her not being in Annapolis for the legislative session was her anniversary gift," laughed Haines. "She enjoyed that one."
In his press release Haines stated he was proud that "having been elected by wide margins and running unopposed has been a humbling experience. However, I now feel the need to devote more time to my growing family and family owned business."
Haines heads the Westminster real estate office, Haines Realty. He resides in Westminster and has been a lifelong resident of Carroll County.
His tenure was marked by a consistent conservative voting record. Haines was still able to build some consensus with the widely Democratic controlled senate to get many of his bills passed. He is most proud of the constituent work he did in a quiet manner.
Besides committing to work for Getty, Haines said he will also throw his complete support behind Ehrlich's bid to wrestle back the governorship from Gov. Martin O'Malley this fall. "I also want to work more for my church," said Haines, who serves as a Sunday school teacher at the Church of the Open Door, Westminster.
In 1990 Haines won in the general election against Democrat and two-term Carroll County Commissioner Jeff Griffith. It was the first time Haines had sought a political office after working many years in others campaigns.
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