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When the Maryland General Assembly opens for business next month in Annapolis, Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. begins the daunting task of juggling his legislative duties with his duties as president and CEO of the United Way of Frederick County.

Weldon was elected in 2002 as a state delegate; he accepted the job as president and chief executive officer of the major nonprofit agency in April.

"It's a matter of balance," said Weldon, relaxing in his United Way office this week. "But it is something I give a lot of thought to. I'm going to have to figure out how to do both and how to be here and in Annapolis on a daily basis."

Weldon also finds himself having to tackle both jobs at a time when the country is in a serious financial slump. The economic recession is negatively impacting the United Way's annual campaign drive, causing people who normally donate money to think twice. And the recession is expected to dominate much of the three-month legislative session in Annapolis.

"It's tough," he said. "It's really, really difficult. The same economic forces that make people stop giving are the same economic forces that cause people to need help."

But the friendly, easy-going Brunswick resident welcomes the challenge.

"This is the most exciting time in my life," he said. "Helping this organization get its legs under it and the next two years in the legislature is really going to be interesting."

Weldon has already announced that he will not seek re-election in 2010.

Weldon will return to the legislature in January for the first time as unaffiliated with a political party.

In September, Weldon announced that he was leaving the Republican Party after 31 years. At the time, Weldon said he left because of the "broken culture" in Annapolis.

"I will be the only independent out of 187 legislators," he said. "I'm a sole free agent."

Weldon will also more than likely stay on as chairman of the Frederick delegation to the General Assembly, a position he has held since 2006.

Most of his delegation colleagues voiced support for Weldon in October when he offered to resign as a result of leaving the Republican Party.

"I'm happy to [remain chairman] if there isn't anyone else clamoring to do it," he said. "But I'm more than happy to step aside if someone else wants it."

The delegation will meet in January to decide the chairmanship.

But the question remains, how will Weldon juggle it all?

Weldon jokes that he hasn't the faintest idea how he is going to handle his role as state delegate for Frederick and Washington counties and president of the United Way.

He credits his Blackberry and day planner with helping to keep him on track. But in reality, this seasoned public official is prepared.

"January isn't that big a challenge, as the legislative workload is light, mostly receptions that I avoid anyway," he said. "We wrap up our giving campaign around then, so when things start getting hectic in the legislature, we'll be mostly done with the United Way charitable giving effort for the year. At about the same time things ramp up [in Annapolis] they are slower here."

Weldon has assured the United Way's governing board that it need not worry. "I expect to be here every day," he said of his downtown Frederick office.

The board is not concerned.

"Rick has been a great attribute to Frederick County," said Chairwoman Jayne B. Bongard. "The connections he has made for us have been phenomenal. We have been able to move forward and we do not see any difficulties with him juggling both. Rick has just been a tremendous asset."