Del. Joseph R. Bartlett drops out of state race

Bartlett drops out of state race

Says decision not a result of ‘recent political turbulence' over housing rental arrangement

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer Thursday, July 8, 2010

http://www.gazette.net/stories/07082010/frednew164427_32549.php

It's official. Following a weekend of speculation surrounding his decision to withdraw from his re-election bid, Del. Joseph R. Bartlett announced Tuesday that he is out.

Bartlett (R-Dist. 4A) of Middletown said in a statement that his decision had been forthcoming for months, and had nothing to do with "recent political turbulence or a fear of not being re-elected." He also stated that he will be unavailable for comment or interviews for several days.

Talk about Bartlett's withdrawal began after The Gazette published a story last week that he was reconsidering running for a fourth term. He filed the papers on June 4 to run again, six days before The Gazette published a story detailing his housing rental arrangement that financially benefited his girlfriend, Katharine Hopkins… http://www.gazette.net/stories/07082010/frednew164427_32549.php

20100708 Gaz Heerbrandt Bartlett drops out of state race

Related:

Thursday, July 1, 2010 Bartlett considers not running again

Three-term delegate's ethics called into question by colleagues

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer

http://www.gazette.net/stories/07012010/thurnew165422_32550.php

A state delegate from Frederick County is considering not running for a fourth term, following fallout from a story published in The Gazette about a housing rental arrangement with his girlfriend at taxpayers' expense.

This week Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4) of Middletown, who has served as a state delegate since 1998, said that as the July 6 filing deadline approaches, "you always search your soul and see if this is something you want to do again." ...

~~~~~~~~~

Bartlett rethinks ‘sweetheart deal' Friday, June 11, 2010

Delegate within law, but rental payments to girlfriend raise questions

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer http://www.gazette.net/stories/06112010/polinew184800_32556.php

A state delegate from Frederick County said he is rethinking a housing rental arrangement in which the state paid his girlfriend $30,000 over three years while the General Assembly was in session.

Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4) of Middletown acknowledged this week that he has stayed with his girlfriend in her Annapolis home at taxpayers' expense during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 sessions of the General Assembly.

Legally and ethically, Bartlett's actions comply with state law, but he admits he did not think the situation through and likely will discontinue the practice if he is re-elected this year...

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com