In her race for state comptroller, Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens is getting slammed by her Democratic opponents as a friend who went back on her word and as a turncoat ally of the Republican governor.
But Owens insisted that “It?s time for me to run,” especially as the only Democratic woman in a statewide race, and that “it is just ludicrous” to question her credentials as a progressive Democrat.
Incumbent William Donald Schaefer said Owens repeatedly told him she would not run, and so he was “surprised” and “let down” when she gave him the news at a private meeting four weeks ago. “The worst thing in politics is when your friends turn on you,” Schaefer said.
“The last thing I wanted to do is hurt that man,” Owens said. Still, she said she was inclined all along to run for comptroller. “It?s time for a woman ,too, statewide.”
“I don?t think [Schaefer?s] hurt by the entry of Janet Owens into the race,” said Senate President Thomas Mike Miller.
But Bethesda pollster Keith Haller disagrees with the conventional wisdom, saying Owens has “taken a share of his base out of the Baltimore suburbs.”
Montgomery County Del. Peter Franchot has charged that Schaefer and Owens come from “the Ehrlich wing of the Democratic Party.” Saying on campaign literature and his Web site that he is “the only Democrat” in the contest, Franchot contends that “they?re close to Ehrlich. They support him philosophically.”
“Mr. Franchot better take a better look at my record,” Owens said. “I?ve been a Democrat for 44 years,” and during her eight years as executive, she?s accomplished “a number of progressive things” despite a tax cap, such as raising teacher salaries, and expanding programs for immigrants, for abused women and for human services, she said.
She concedes that she is friendly with Gov. Robert Ehrlich and his wife, Kendel, with whom she serves on several boards. The governor?s mansion is a five-minute walk from Owens? Annapolis office, and “he and Kendel have very much engaged in the local community.”
In her position, “you?ve got to get along with governors,” Owens said. “I?m good friends with [former Gov.] Parris Glendening.”
She denied that she would be a reliable ally on the Board of Public Works for Ehrlich or any governor. “I would hope I would be a safe and reliable vote for all the citizens as comptroller. I see that position as the independent voice that acts purely in the best interest of everybody.”
