Who Will Succeed Pipkin in Maryland Senate?

The search is on for the successor of Sen. E.J. Pipkin, who resigned from his position representing Cecil and three other counties, effective Aug. 12.

Pipkin, 56, plans to move to Texas to study sports management at Southern Methodist University, where WBAL reports his daughter, a sophomore, is also enrolled.

The Maryland Republican Central Committee has 30 days to name the next senator to represent District 36, which includes Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Caroline counties.

The committee is accepting letters of interest from candidates until the close of business on Monday, Aug. 19, according to a call for nominations on the Maryland Republican Party's website. Then the committee has 15 days to review the pool and select a new senator.

The following candidates are considering the position, according to The Baltimore Sun: Delegate Mike Smiegel, Delegate Jay Jacobs and Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners President Steve Arentz. Former Delegate Dick Sossi is also interested, according to MarylandReporter.com.

Pipkin gave his endorsement to Smiegel, The Baltimore Sun reported: "But that's not really up to me to decide," he said.

If the central committee does not meet its 30-day deadline to appoint Pipkin's successor, then Gov. Martin O'Malley will appoint someone. The new senator must be a Republican, according to the Maryland Constitution, since that was Pipkin's party affiliation.

Before his departure from politics, Pipkin was the Senate Minority leader; his replacement in that role will likely be determined when the Republican caucus meets in October, CapitalGazette.com reported.