With only 8 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Comptroller William Donald Schaefer appeared to keeping his head above water, holding a very slim lead against Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens and Del. Peter Franchot of Montgomery County.
Schaefer was trying to avoid an embarrassing end to his 50 years in politics by persuading voters that they should give another four years to a “name they can trust,” the man who collects all the taxes and signs all the checks.
Schaefer had faced his toughest race in decades, with the potential to be done in by his own worst enemy ? the controversial words and acts of the ex-governor and ex-mayor himself.
Schaefer had a long history of controversial statements, barbed insults and contrary behavior that had been tolerated while he aggressively got things done as chief executive of the state and Baltimore City. But gradually this year, and particularly in the last 10 days, Schaefer?s behavior caused even more voters to question whether a man soon to turn 85 should be given four more years in office.
This summer he again made comments antagonizing immigrants and women, and even issued an ad apologizing vaguely for his past remarks. In September, he made a series of on-camera remarks criticizing Owens? dress and weight that led a group of women to organize a “Schaefer must go” campaign.
But Schaefer supporters fought back, and avoiding cameras and public appearances for the last six days, he issued a letter criticizing Owens for “age discrimination.”
After she voted Tuesday, Owens said, “I was really running on my record” as executive for eight years. She said, “I will restore dignity and respect to the Board of Public Works,” on which the comptroller sits with the governor and treasurer, approving billions in state contracts each year.
Franchot persistently attacked Schaefer?s role on that board, particularly his support for budget cutting and other policy measures by Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich. He said he was “the only real Democrat” in the race, and both Schaefer and Owens were part of the “Ehrlich wing” of the Democratic Party.
