Baltimore's Litmus Test

Laura Vozzella's column today in the Sun has a nugget regarding the vacancy on the Baltimore City Council's 6th District, due to the elevation of Stephanie Rawlings Blake to President of the City Council:

Litmus tests aren't just for Supreme Court nominees anymore. At a hearing tonight, City Council Vice President Bobby Curran said he'll ask all 11 candidates seeking the vacant 6th District seat their positions on the proposed Baltimore smoking ban. Curran, one of 10 people on the council committee that will recommend someone to the full council, said he won't support anyone who doesn't back the ban. "Why do you want to get into public service if you're not going to serve the public?

That's right; the Governor's brother-in-law wants to create a litmus test for candidates who want to fill this seat on the City Council. But how arrogant is it that Curran believes that only people who pass his litmus test are going to serve the public? Is not somebody who supports business who want to allow smoking in their establishment also supporting the public?

Curran's arrogance is incredible, though not surprising in the Democratically dominated City of Baltimore...