Rivals Cross Paths at Poll

Bill Paulshock and Mike Ertel, both running as Democratic candidates in the Baltimore County Council District 5 race, did not plan on seeing each other at Gunpowder Elementary School on Election Day afternoon in Perry Hall.

But that's exactly what happened. 

"He follows me around," said Ertel, jokingly.

The candidates kept a few yards of distance from each other outside of the school which housed two polling areas, one in the gymnasium and another in the cafeteria. Both handed out literature, shook hands and offered final pleas to voters on why each should be chosen as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming general election.

"I'm going to be the best man for the job," Paulshock said. "I always put people first. I'm also the most qualified in terms of business and community leadership experience."

Ertel disagreed.

"Bill's a good guy, but he's more of a business guy. His involvement in the community has always been more peripheral, here and there," Ertel said. "I've spent more time working with real neighborhood issues, from landlords to schools."

Ertel decided to spend the afternoon in Perry Hall because, he said, he is less well known in the area. Ertel has attacked Paulshock throughout the campaign for claiming to live in District 5 when his primary residence is outside of the district. Paulshock has listed the address of his business, Bill's Seafood & Catering Company, to qualify to run. 

"I want people to know that I care about Perry Hall," he said.

Paulshock spent the morning in Towson, but decided to venture back to Perry Hall to deliver lunch to some of his campaigners.

He wasn't shocked to see Ertel outside of the same polling place when he arrived, he said.

"We've been crossing paths through this whole campaign," Paulshock said.