Republicans: Kach's Change of Heart Hurts Political Future
Ellen Sauerbrey: "If his was the one vote the governor needed then he will be held accountable by a lot of people."
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Del. Wade Kach's decision to vote in favor of same-sex marriage legislation in the House of Delegates has drawn the ire of some Republicans who say it threatens the nine-term delegate's political future.
"If his was the one vote the governor needed, then he will be held accountable by a lot of people," said Ellen Sauerbrey, a friend and political ally of Kach.
Sauerbrey said she spoke to Kach on Wednesday night but was unclear about the reasons why the delegate changed his mind that day after opposing the bill in a committee vote 24 hours earlier.
"I look at this and say it makes no sense unless there is something else we don't know," Sauerbrey said.
"I am totally bewildered by this," Sauerbrey said. "His decision made no sense. All he could say was his heart was touched by some of the stories."
Patch reported late Wednesday that Kach told Republican colleagues he switched his vote in favor of the bill.
Thursday morning, Gov. Martin O'Malley issued a statement attributed to Kach on the governor's Twitter account.
"Constituents sent me to Annapolis to represent them," read the statement attributed to Kach by O'Malley. "They didn't send me to sit in judgment of the lives of others."
The Baltimore Sun also reported Thursday morning that Kach, a nine-term delegate, had confirmed his change of position.
Kach managed to slip unseen past a gaggle of reporters who waited for him outside the House chamber Thursday morning.
Outside his office, opponents of the same-sex marriage bill, including ministers, waited several minutes for Kach to arrive.
His office door was closed and locked. Calls to his office phone were forwarded directly to voicemail. The delegate did not answer his cell phone or his hotel room or return multiple messages from a Patch reporter seeking comment.
An aide representing Kach asked a reporter seeking an interview before committee hearings to come back later in the afternoon.
"I really am very surprised that Wade is going to change his vote," said Del. Joseph Boteler, a Baltimore County Republican and colleague of Kach.
Boteler noted that Kach spoke against the bill during committee debate Tuesday evening.
Boteler said he spoke to Kach on the floor of the House of Delegates on Thursday morning. He said Kach gave no reason for the switch.
"I think he feels that the issue is not a big deal," Boteler said. "It's really hard to read him on this issue."
Boteler said he warned Kach that the vote could damage his political future.
Some other county Republicans privately speculated that a vote for the same-sex marriage bill might signal that Kach will not run in 2014.
Kach represents District 5B which includes an area of northern Baltimore County that stretches from Cockeysville to the Pennsylvania line. The single-member district is considered to be one of the more conservative areas of the county.
New redistricting maps that will go into effect in 2014 place Kach in a newly-drawn, two-member district within the 42nd District. The new two-member district is considered favorable to Republicans.
Kach could find himself pitted against four Republicans including Boteler, a frequent ally, and Dels. Susan Aumann and Bill Frank, both of whom currently represent the 42nd District.
"I told him I don't think this district will be very happy about his vote for the gay marriage legislation," Boteler said.
Sauerbrey said Kach could find himself in a tough primary fight in two years.
Boteler held out hope Kach was not committed to voting for the bill. Sauerbrey said she continued to email Kach about the issue but was less hopeful.
"Once you've made a decision like this and stated it publicly, after changing your position once, it's difficult to change your vote again," Sauerbrey said.
Mike
2:45 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I applaud Kach for his decision to change his vote. It's nice to see a politician do what he feels is right, which may not be in line with his personal beliefs. I find his colleagues reaction to his decision disturbing. I'm a straight male with two young children and I want to raise them to be accepting of all people.
Aliza Worthington
3:51 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I agree with absolutely everything you wrote, Mike. You have to be a mighty strong Republican to vote for this, but clearly, he is putting his humanity above partisanship and the bullying tactics and threats of his own party. That makes him a strong PERSON, and someone of integrity, in my book.
kevin
2:57 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Why do we call them representatives ? Honestly you don't represent your communities you just are out right thieves your job you are paid for is to represent the people who voted you into office .Mr.Kach proves it doesn't matter what party you vote in power corrupts.It'll be Great to explain to your grandchildren that you were nothing more than a sellout ,just wonder what Marty gave you that is worth more than your word. Sellout
Ed Veit
3:07 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Good work Wade.
LalainMaryland
3:56 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Kevin,
If politicians are so corrupt, you try doing their job!
Paul Amirault
4:03 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
"Political future" versus "voting his conscience". Very gutsy. But more importantly we now see why Del. Boteler votes the way he does. Sad. Term limits please.
Nicholas Caroselli
4:29 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Standing up for what is right take courage. I want to shake his hand.
Terri Czarski
4:49 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I applaud Delegate Koch. And by the way, for those that say he is not representing the views of his district, surely you must know by now that his district has many committed same sex families in it who want to be treated with the respect and dignity afforded to all our citizens.
Valleycrest
6:28 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
It takes courage to stand up for marriage not to tear it down and redefine it.
Valleycrest
6:53 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I will say thank you to Kach for offering the amendment to delay implementation if passed to jan 2013. That means a referendum will occur before it goes into effect. We the people will overturn this in referendum.
Blacktop
11:40 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
If you think this guy is a "defender of equality" you are just another gullible rube.
Kach sold out for a 6-figure state job promised by O'Malley. This hypocritical piece of human filth agreed to destroy the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman for 30 shekels of silver.
Scott Sewell
7:03 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Very dissapointed in you Wade.
Bill Howard
10:15 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
Why are they calling it standing up for what is right? Isn't it really codifying what is wrong? Don't know how Wade will undo the damage.
John L.
1:04 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Apparently a lot of people are disappointed in the vote switch. It is a shame our representatives cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
Neal Baker
1:33 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Did he campaign against same sex marriage? I don't know who he is, but if he campaigned against it or voted against it last year, then he is spineless scum bag who sold his soul to Owe Malley for a few pork projects of his own. He should be recalled. Maybe he took a job as a lobbyist for a GBLT group, double dipping like Curry.
Bill Day
9:20 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Nice to see the classy side of the Republican Party on display in the comments.
Bill Howard
10:12 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
True. They never sink to the level of democrat hacks and bitter socilaists no matter how bad it gets.
Tom Henry
10:42 am on Saturday, February 18, 2012
Unless indentified as Republican, making such an ad-hominem assumption shows ignorance of thought, leading to flawed opinion.
One salient point that those in the Republican delegation infer is that not 12 hours before his announcement in favor of this bill, he was against gay-marriage, and had been so throughout his political tenure.
A more important point to take from this is that this bill passed on the pressures of a well-funded, vocal LGBT lobby who has been pushing for this for many years.
To digress a bit, the claims the LGBT lobby "does not have millions of dollars" (as I heard in testimony this past Tuesday on the Baltimore County Council bill 3-12), they do have many wealthy contributors to fund them. Further, the NEA has given to the sponsors of bill 3-12 over $10,000 in campaign contributions.
The issue for them is not anti-discrimination, but redefinition of a cultural norm. A civil union bill could easily been enacted. By the LGBT lobby's own admission, the term "marriage" is only a word. If that is so, why such opposition to civil unions?
An agenda of a minority group has now received majority status. I wonder if the bill (in its final passage) will include the marriage penalty at tax-time? I suspect not.
Further, if in fact, Del. Kach does receive a 6-digit figure as a political payback, he would now become one of the "1%". I'm OK with that, but will these same people who are applauding his courage, now criticize him for greed? I wonder.
Bill Howard
10:15 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
No Tom. Hypocracy never gets applied to the utility of the radical socially liberal left.
Paul Amirault
10:19 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
"Further, the NEA has given to the sponsors of bill 3-12 over $10,000 in campaign contributions." That is an absurd suggestion you are making. Simply dishonest and pathetic.
Bart
7:49 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
I applaud Del. Kach. Thank you, sir.