Harford County Democrats were briefly invited Monday morning to a fundraiser for Democratic First District Congressional candidate Frank Kratovil. Minutes after Art Helton of the New Harford Democratic Club invited local Democrats to his house for next week’s fundraiser, the message was rescinded.
Instead the Democrats were invited to a brunch at the Helton home in Kratovil’s honor.
The first email read:
You’re invited to a fundraiser for Democratic Nominee Frank Kratovil
On September 14, 1-3:30 p.m., Art and Ann Helton will host a Brunch at their home for Frank Kratovil, Democratic nominee for Congress for the First Congressional District. You are invited to meet and greet Frank and learn more about his campaign and the issues facing the District. Please R.S.V.P. to Ann OR Art AT 410-734-7206, 410-808-7847 or e-mail AnnCHelton@aol.com.
Address for Brunch: 3069 Harmony Church Rd., Darlington, Md. 21034
A few minutes later, this second email clarified the official status of the event:
You’re invited to a BRUNCH (not fundraiser) for Democratic Nominee Frank Kratovil
On September 14, 1-3:30 p.m., Art and Ann Helton will host a Brunch at their home for Frank Kratovil, Democratic nominee for Congress for the First Congressional District. You are invited to meet and greet Frank and learn more about his campaign and the issues facing the District. Please R.S.V.P. to Ann OR Art AT 410-734-7206, 410-808-7847 or e-mail AnnCHelton@aol.com.
Address for Brunch: 3069 Harmony Church Rd., Darlington, Md. 21034
What I found even more intriguing than the name change for the political event is that this may be the first time Art Helton, a former state senator and behind-the-scenes political player, has designated his Darlington estate as his “home.”
You may recall Helton works, redevelops and maintains offices in the City of Aberdeen – where he recently helped the virtually unknown candidate Mike Bennett bump off the incumbent mayor S. Fred Simmons.
From time to time, Helton has voted and politicked in Aberdeen – maintaining that his business office mailing addresses there constituted his residency and, therefore, his right to vote.
So now we have confirmation via these emails that Art and wife, Ann, a county executive candidate two years ago who came closer than many remember to edging out David Craig for the office, call Darlington home.
He may literally own half of downtown, but as long as his mailing address is in Darlington, he shouldn’t be voting in Aberdeen.
Maybe Art Helton simply can’t remember how many homes he owns? It’s a pretty common thing I hear.
Will the next email have a change of address some some house on Old Post Rd?
Art Helton doesn’t live in Aberdeen? What are you saying?
As Captain Renault would have said in Casablanca, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that there is lying going on here!”
Or, if the Heltons had their way, a more appropriate Renault quote would be, “I’m only a poor corrupt official.”
Thank God we have kept them from coming back into office.
Phil Dirt – We kept them out of office?
Art helton is only a breath away. I wonder where steve johnson is.
You’ll find Steve Johnson up Art Helton’s ass!
I should have known!
Ouch! At least they haven’t been directly elected for a while.
i talked to one of his former aides ( when art was in office) they quit working for him because he was such an a$$ and a alleged womanizer.
When you elected Bennett, you elected Helton! remember the first thing the newly elected mayor and council president did? I do! Exactly how much did Helton save in that deal? Time for another change in office!
I guess personal attacks will be deleted only if they are against people u do like.!!!!! Art and Steve must be excluded. Nothing like bias!!!!!!
Tootles- There’s some pretty tame stuff here up to this point.
Now, if somebody perhaps said that Art #$%^& up the winward side of a #$&^*(^ donkey *&^%$ while Steve blew kisses at ^%&%$* stained glass @#*&^ popcicle stick &^%$# green ^%$*& five times, THAT just might be a personal attack.
Free #$%^&*# SPEECH!!!
You have published unconscionable, unfair comments! Your own is also unfair.
Many people, not only members of Congress, have more than one address. Just because the man joins his wife in hosting an event at a property they both own doesn’t mean his legal residence isn’t elsewhere.
For you to encourage cheap shots by “virtue” of snide remarks designed to elicit cynicism speaks for itself.
You undermine our county, state and country thus. You can be a voice of reason, or one more dagger in the hearts of those who care enormously about Harford County, Maryland and the U.S. Art Helton is one of them. He has served this county and state in ways you obviously don’t even know. Why not try to learn about them before throwing stones? Then stretch a little to try to understand how folks with a winter condo in Florida, or a rental/investment property which is currently used as a legal residence, are just a couple of categories of those with more than one home. If you read about the care which former Md. Senator Helton has taken to establish his legal residence, you would make a start to understand.
So which address does he live at Aberdeen, Darlington, Joppa, Havre de Grace? Maybe tomorrow he will move to Fallston?
Thanks for the message, Art. I mean, thanks Ann. Oops! Good job, Judy. Yeah, that’s it! Judy! Good to see your reply to a story that is almost two years old.
Wow, who turned back the time machine? Maybe we should all go back and post crazy comments on 2-year old stories.