Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, whose tongue could often be a blunt instrument, was surprisingly gracious to the man who brought his 50-year political career to an end in Tuesday?s primary, Del. Peter Franchot of Montgomery County.
“The best man won,” Schaefer told reporters at an Annapolis news conference Wednesday. “If you?re not the best man, you don?t win. It?s a tough one to lose. The race was tough. I didn?t think I was going to lose.”
With absentee and provisional ballots still to be counted, Franchot got 36 percent, Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens received 34 percent, and Schaefer came in last with 30 percent. Franchot had attacked Schaefer for months, questioning his competence and party loyalty. But he too was gracious in victory, beginning his speech at a Democratic unity luncheon in Baltimore with praise of the former governor and Baltimore mayor.
“I want to reach out and salute William Donald Schaefer for his 50 years of service,” said Franchot. “Let?s give him a round of applause.”
“I?m surprised he won,” Schaefer admitted. “But Peter?s a different person, but he?s always been my friend.”
Kind words failed him when Schaefer talked about Owens, who had not attacked Schaefer until the final week, when called her a “Mother Hubbard” who was “getting fat.” The two had been friends, and Schaefer was clearly nursing that wound.
“The toughest thing is when friends turn on you, and it?s an awakening,” he said. “There are people who?ll try any trick to get elected, and I?m not used to that.”
Owens had said she cried at the meeting when she told him she was running against him, saying it was like telling your grandfather you were taking away the car keys. This remark set off Schaefer, who accused her of “age discrimination.”
Staff writer Stephanie Tracy contributed to this story.
