Comptroller William Donald Schaefer continues to air a radio announcement where he apologizes because “I?ve also said some things I shouldn?t. But I never meant to offend anyone.”
Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens, one of his two opponents in the Democratic primary, calls the apology “nothing more than an insincere and shallow political ploy,” based on remarks Schaefer made about her on WJLA-TV in Washington.
“She?s Mother Hubbard,” Schaefer said. And she?s “got these long clothes on and that old-fashioned hairdo. You know, it sort of makes you mad.” It is not clear what Schaefer meant by the last statement.
Prodded to comment, Owens issued a statement Tuesday: “I have no intention of responding to Schaefer?s coarse and insulting remarks. I had hoped his apology last week perhaps showed that he understood his behavior and statements of the past were totally inappropriate.”
“In this final week, I will conduct myself as I have throughout the campaign and continue to run on the issues I think are critical for the citizens of Maryland,” Owens said. “And one of these issues will be to restore integrity to the office of comptroller and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.”
Del. Peter Franchot, a persistent critic of Schaefer?s controversial remarks in recent years, is the third Democrat in the race.
