🦸♂️ Maryland’s Heroes and Villains: A 2025 Civic Scorecard
By Maryland Wire Staff | November 8, 2025
In a state where public service is sacred and scandal is never far behind, Marylanders are sorting their leaders into two camps: those who serve with honor, and those who serve… something else. Here’s our tongue-in-cheek roundup of local legends and legislative liabilities.
🟩 HEROES
🧮 Delegate Eric Ebersole
The Catonsville math teacher with a strong wit turned Annapolis insider is beloved for his honesty, work ethic, and a stong and loving wife. Now chairing the Baltimore County Delegation, Ebersole is being begged to run for County Council District 1 as Pat Young steps down. He’s the kind of guy who’d bring a calculator to a zoning fight—and win.
https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa17056.html
🌾 Congressman John Olszewski Jr.
Freshly elected to Congress from Maryland’s 2nd District, Johnny O is hailed as the ideal rep for a new northern district that hugs Baltimore County, Harford, Cecil, and the Eastern Shore. Farmers and watermen alike say he’s the real deal—boots-on-the-ground, policy-in-the-head.
🧠 Rep. April McClain Delaney
Smart, steady, scandal-free. Delaney does her job without threatening to kill delivery drivers—unlike her predecessor David Trone, who’s been accused of just that. Marylanders
🟥 Maryland’s Villains of 2025: Boozy Mayors, Map Manipulators, and One Very Hot Sheriff’s Office
Maryland’s civic rogues gallery is overflowing this season. From redistricting shenanigans to alleged sexcapades in Carroll County, here’s our tongue-in-cheek roundup of public figures who’ve earned a spot on the naughty list.
🔪 David Trone: The Wacko Wine Baron
The former congressman and Total Wine & More magnate reportedly threatened to kill a delivery driver over a merchandise dispute. Voters say he’s gone from “spirited” to “unhinged,” and the nickname “Wacko Trone” is gaining traction in Montgomery County.
https://thespectator.com/politics/maryland-congressman-david-trone-execute-delivery-worker/
🗺️ Izzy Patoka: The Mapmaker Who Forgot the Shore
Patoka fought hard for a Baltimore County redistricting map that critics say suppresses Black representation. But when it comes to statewide reapportionment—especially proposals that could unseat Andy Harris on the Eastern Shore—he’s nowhere to be found. If it’s not racially regressive, he’s not interested.
🍸 Todd Crandell: Guns, Booze, and Bad Judgment
Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell reportedly has a habit of mixing alcohol and firearms. Locals say he’s been seen drinking to the point of incoherence while armed—a combination that’s less “Second Amendment” and more “Second Guess.”
🚗 Randy Taylor: Salisbury’s In-The-Bag Mayor
Mayor Taylor made headlines for painting over LGBTQ walkways, but locals say the real danger is his alleged habit of driving drunk around town. Some residents suggest installing a breathalyzer ignition lock on the mayor’s car—just to keep the streets safe.
https://www.wmdt.com/2024/07/mayor-randy-taylor-speak-on-crosswalk-controversy
🔥 Sheriff Jim DeWees: Carroll County’s Alleged Casanova
Spelled DeWees, not “DeWise”—and definitely not “Decent.” The Carroll County sheriff was accused in court filings by his wife (the Register of Wills) of sleeping with “hundreds” of people, including at least seven deputies. No word on gender breakdown, but Haven Shoemaker allegedly quipped, “It’s hotter in the sheriff’s office than a one-room house with a potbelly stove.”
📉 Sen. Clarence Lam: The Mapmaker with a Caveat
We like Clarence. But critics say his congressional map could leave Maryland with a 7–1 or even 6–2 Republican split. Whether it’s a misstep or a misfire, he’s on the list—with a footnote: we’re not convinced he belongs here.
Final Thought
Villainy in Maryland isn’t just about corruption—it’s about absurdity. Whether it’s a sheriff with a libido the size of Westminster or a mayor who treats traffic laws like suggestions, the people are watching. And laughing. And voting. We didn’t forget Prince George’s County we will address them seperatly