Shane Robinson a first-time candidate with a history of global volunteerism upset Bob Hydorn, president of the Montgomery Village Foundation board, in Tuesday's primary to win a spot on the Nov. 2 ballot for a District 39 seat in the House of Delegates.

Blame the unions, Hydorn said in response to Robinson's nearly 2-to-1 margin of victory for the third seat on the Democratic ticket with incumbents Charles Barkley and Kirill Reznick.

Robinson was endorsed in June by the Montgomery County Education Association. Forty three of the 46 candidates listed on the organization's Apple Ballot were selected by voters in the primary race (one contest was still too close to call as of Monday). The bright red ballot guides were passed out by hundreds of volunteers at nearly every Montgomery County polling place.

"I'm disappointed, but in my mind, it is just the Apple Ballot," Hydorn said after the election. "I didn't get the union endorsement."

Hydorn did pursue the teachers' backing, having gone through the questionnaire and interview process with MCEA.

Robinson was also endorsed by AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, the League of Conservation Voters, NARAL, Progressive Maryland and Equality Maryland.

Hydorn was endorsed by The Gazette and The Washington Post.

A powerful and well known figure in Montgomery Village, Hydorn spent about half as much as Robinson, $6,877 compared to $12,746, in the primary race. Robinson's expenses include $5,000 in personal loans which are still outstanding.

Hydorn said he would have won the race, were it not for the Apple Ballot, given his history of leadership in Montgomery Village.

It is not yet possible to know if Hydorn had more support in Montgomery Village than other areas. Precinct voting information will not available until Friday, according to Marjorie Roher, a Montgomery County Board of Elections spokeswoman.

Hydorn parsed no words in analyzing his loss Friday.

"Shane is a nice young man. Hopefully he will do really well. I'm concerned that he has no background in the community whatsoever," he said. "That's not just a concern with Shane, but with anybody that didn't have that background."

Robinson grew up around the world, living or studying on five different continents. He was born in Iran, and then traveled with his parents to Brazil, Bolivia and Nevada. Robinson said he's always considered Montgomery County home base. He and his wife have lived in Montgomery Village for three years.

"Besides living here and being concerned with what's happening and following everything, I've just spent four months almost entirely talking to residents," he said. "I would say that there's no place I know better.

"I would guess there are people who have lived here far longer that might not have the same grasp on issues in the community because they go about their daily lives in the way that we generally do, which is passive."

Robinson acknowledged the nod from the education association gave him a boost in his first campaign for elected office.

"There's no question that the Apple Ballot helped me a lot. Of course I did have to get their endorsement," Robinson said. "So I think focusing on that process in the beginning really helped me."

Robinson said his "ground game," knocking on doors and attending events, also helped propel him to victory.

Robinson will not be getting support from the man he defeated; Hydorn said he not be involved in the District 39 race going forward. "Since I've been a part of that race, I am just going to sit on the sidelines and watch," Hydorn said. "I will not make any endorsements (of the remaining candidates)."

Doug Prouty, president of MCEA, did not return a call for comment about the Apple Ballot's influence.

dgaines@gazette.net