Harford Democrats to interview candidates Tuesday night to replace Jacob Bennett

Mar. 28—At its meeting tonight, the Harford County Democratic Central Committee will interview candidates to fill the District F vacancy on the Harford County Council.

The committee will meet at the Havre de Grace Police Department at 7 p.m. Committee chair Henry Gibbons said five candidates will be interviewed, and the top three will be submitted to the County Council.

The meeting is open to the public with limited seating.

The council seat is vacant after Democratic council member Jacob Bennett, who was elected to office in November, was removed after a Circuit Court judge ruling in a lawsuit brought by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly.

Judge Richard Bernhardt ruled Feb. 15 that Bennett was unable to hold both positions based on a provision of the county charter that states a "council member shall not hold any other office of profit or employment in the government of the State of Maryland, Harford County, or any municipality within Harford County."

Bennett's case will be heard by the Maryland Supreme Court on April 4.

Under the county charter, when the County Council has an opening, the central committee of the previous council member's party selects three candidates to fill the spot. The County Council then selects one of the three candidates to become the new council member.