Tomlinson joins WCBM, gets pressed on Schulz support, Willens reacts

District 5 Delegate race stays intense

Early on Wednesday, District 5 Delegate candidate Chris Tomlinson joined WCBM’s The Morning Drive with Casey & Elliott, as part of their ongoing meet the candidate series. 

His segment was brief but pointed. 

Casey opened by asking Tomlinson how he balances working in the Hogan administration with being a Trump supporter, given the hostility between the two. 

Tomlinson replied, sharing his belief that both have done good things, Trump for the country and Hogan for the state, so he has “no problem” supporting them both.  

Casey kept on with the same line of questioning, next asking Tomlinson directly whether or not he would be supporting Kelly Schulz in the Republican primary, which Tomlinson deflected at first on the grounds he is not an elected official yet and therefore has no business making endorsements, before later acknowledging he would probably lean Schulz citing the Buckley rule, which advises voting for the most conservative candidate who can actually win a general election.    

When asked what makes him the Delegate candidate deserving of District 5’s votes, he explained how he understands Carroll’s issues and he knows how the General Assembly works given his previous experience testifying on legislation and being the Third Vice Chair of Maryland’s Republican party.

He concluded by joking that many of his opponents have probably never even been to Annapolis, and are otherwise on the cusp of retirement, meaning they have less skin in the game when it comes to the future of Carroll County because they already have one foot out the door of it, where Tomlinson who is in his mid 30s isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Later on Facebook, fellow District 5 Delegate candidate and a regular critic of Tomlinson, Scott  Willens, reacted by praising Casey for the tough and direct questioning that lead to the unearthing of Tomlinson’s Schulz support, before reframing Tomlinson’s youthfulness as an attempt at a career in politics instead of just proof he has more skin in the game.