Former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson has raised more money than his fellow Democrats vying for Maryland?s 3rd District Congressional seat.
“We?re tremendously pleased with the support we?ve been getting from our voting district,” said Dawn O?Neill, Beilenson?s campaign manager. She credited almost a year?s worth of grassroots efforts with pushing Beilenson ahead of the race?s bigger names. By March 31, Beilenson had raised $531,899 and had $266,961 on hand.
John Sarbanes, son of retiring U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., and state Sen. Paul Hollinger, round out the top three Democrats in fund raising as reported to the Federal Election Commission in March.
U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin, D-3rd, is running for U.S. Senate to replace the senior Sarbanes.
The two Republicans who filed reports during the last period significantly trailed the Democratic leaders. Gary Applebaum reported $134,695 in net receipts with $128,430 in cash on hand, while John White borrowed $101,000 for his campaign.
The Democratic candidates were expected to attend an environmental debate Thursday night in Baltimore sponsored by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.
Beilenson has served in the Cabinets of both former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and current Mayor Martin O?Malley, who is also competing for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. Beilenson is the son of Rep. Tony Beilenson, who served for 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
