Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens is wrapping up her eighth and final year as the county?s top decision-maker, and is now gearing up to challenge incumbent Comptroller William Donald Schaefer in a crowded Democratic primary inSeptember. In an interview with The Examiner, Owens reflected on her work at the local level and asked voters to consider her administrative experience when they go to the polls.
Q: What was your biggest accomplishment as county executive?
A: Most every teacher in Anne Arundel County knows that public education is valued. That was not true eight years ago. I?m proud of the thousands of acres of farmland that?s been preserved, and I?m proud of the economic development that has occurred that?s made it possible for me to support education. And I?ve done it in a revenue-capped environment.
Q: What was your biggest disappointment?
A: It was exceedingly complex and frustrating dealing with the education bureaucracy, and I?m not talking about individuals ? I?m talking about No Child Left Behind. That?s going to be a challenge for the next 10 executives. We?ve got to do something to protect that teacher and that student in that classroom. And we?ve got to get parents involved. The challenge of trying to get funding into that classroom has been the tough thing.
Q: What are the challenges facing the next executive?
A: I don?t know how local government could?ve planned better for BRAC. Transportation is paramount. If you don?t build multiple transportation alternatives for people, we will be in trouble. We?ve got to improve the MARC train service and the bus facility. Most importantly, I think we?ve got to get the Metro from D.C. to Baltimore. I think personally, on my watch, we?ve moved it up probably 10 years, but we really need our federal and state partners on that front.
Q: Will county residents face cuts to services in the future?
A: I think the future executive and council will have some very tough choices, but they also have some insurance. Our tax rate is the third-lowest in the state. We haven?t raised the income tax in decades. The big policy issues that the next executive will be confronted with will be post-employment retirement. I believe the estimate for Anne Arundel County is about $90 million. The next executive is going to have to renegotiate 10 labor contracts. The teachers would like to have another 6 percent. The economic development and the defense growth gives us a little bubble, but it?s not going to be easy.
Q: Why are you running for comptroller and not Congress?
A: It really had to do with being a legislator. You know I was serious about it (running for Congress). My husband and I went to Israel and we bought a house. But I couldn?t get my heart into it. I knew I was interested in the comptroller position years ago. It?s much more of an executive type of function, and you can make a decision immediately.
Q: Did you talk to Gov. Robert Ehrlich at all?
A: I talked with Gov. Schaefer. I talked to mostly our congressional people. Ultimately, it was with my husband. I don?t like misleading people, but there was such a disconnect between my head and my heart.
Q: Do you think you?ll split the vote or negatively impact the Schaefer campaign?
A: I really am running for the job. I think I?m a terrific candidate with a terrific track record that I hope I can get out to citizens. I?m 62 years old. I?m doing this because I want to, and I want to win.
Q: How are you prepared to be a voting member of the state Board of Public Works?
A: I try to hear from everybody and then make an independent decision, and I feel that I have charted the county in the right direction. I feel very comfortable with that vote on the BPW and wading through the complexities, the paper, that will confront you on any issue. For eight years I?ve collected revenue and gone to the rating agencies in New York. It?s tough defending yourself before Moody?s, because they can?t stand revenue caps.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the state?
A: Paying for the post-employment retirement. Fortunately, the state is doing very well right now, but again, you don?t know how that?s going to last. We?ve got to continue the economic and business development, especially biotech.
Janet Owens
» Age: 62
» Hometown: Bristol (now Loth-ian)
» Family: Husband, David Sheehan; two sons
» Favorite book: Book of poetry she keeps at home.
» Favorite saying: “If you don?t have anything nice to say about someone, don?t say anything at all.”
» Hero/mentor: The late Dr. Elizabeth Smith with the National Institute of Mental Health.
» Favorite vacation spot: Swans Island, Maine.
