Comptroller William Donald Schaefer said yesterday that his respect for Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan "has gone up even more" since Duncan's announcement this week that he was dropping out of the race for governor after a diagnosis of clinical depression.
Schaefer, a Democrat who is running for re-election at age 84, has been a longtime supporter of Duncan's and had endorsed the county executive in his gubernatorial primary bid against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley.
In a statement yesterday, Schaefer said he would support the candidacy of O'Malley - without mentioning the mayor by name.
"I want to state clearly and unequivocally that I will support the Democratic nominee for governor in the General Election this year," Schaefer said. "I look forward to being part of that winning team."
Schaefer faces a primary challenge this year from Del. Peter Franchot of Montgomery County Democrat and Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens. Franchot has attacked Schaefer for his ties to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican.
Ehrlich's campaign declined to comment yesterday on Schaefer's statement.
STAFF REPORTS
Bowie
N.C. administrator is new Bowie chief
The chancellor of a North Carolina university has been named the new president of Bowie State University.
Mickey L. Burnim, chancellor of Elizabeth City State University, will begin as president of Bowie State about Sept. 1, the University System of Maryland regents announced yesterday.
Burnim, 57, said he was excited about the prospects for growth at Bowie, which enrolls about 4,000 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students.
Burnim will be paid a salary of $240,000. He succeeds Calvin W. Lowe, who is leaving Bowie on June 30 after serving six years as president.
STAFF REPORTS
U.S. Senate
Bid to move killer's ashes passes hurdle
Legislation ordering the removal of a convicted killer's cremated remains from Arlington National Cemetery has cleared a hurdle in the U.S. Senate.
The measure - part of a bill approved Thursday by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee - seeks to move the remains of Army veteran Russell Wagner, who died of a heroin overdose last year in prison while serving two life sentences for the 1994 stabbing deaths of Daniel and Wilda Davis in Hagerstown.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Annapolis
Ehrlich pardons 11 Md. convicts
