Thomas E. "Tim" Hutchins

There are some in GOP circles kicking around the prospects of the former Charles County delegate and current superintendent of the Maryland State Police. Hutchins is a decorated military veteran, a former state Veterans Affairs secretary and well known as a law-and-order, straight-arrow guy. Add to that the fact that he is in a growing county and has been willing to take on tough races before — he challenged U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer in 2000 — and you’ve got someone to keep an eye on in four years.