Mike Pappas has embarked on what many would call a quixotic campaign for Maryland governor. Even one of his close advisers likened a win in November 2010 to lightning striking.
The 39-year-old Republican is running in a solidly Democratic state that has elected just one other member of the GOP to the governor's mansion since Spiro T. Agnew left the office in 1969. He has no experience as a public official, and he has never been a candidate for elected office.
The construction attorney from Perry Hall also might have irritated some in his own party for jumping into the race ahead of former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the presumptive favorite in a primary, who has left open the possibility of a rematch with Gov. Martin O'Malley.
But with 18 months to shake hands and plaster stickers on bumpers before the election, Pappas is optimistic. Since forming an exploratory committee in December, he has visited nearly every county with his message of fiscal conservatism, which he believes resonates with voters in this recession, and with his calls for an end to one-party rule at the State House.
"We're running this as if we're the only candidate," said Pappas, a balding father and former paramedic who speaks earnestly and chuckles at his own jokes. "And we're in it to win it."
Pappas has scored mentions in the political blogosphere and created a buzz recently by threatening to sue over a budgetary maneuver by the General Assembly that diverted money from a public campaign finance fund. He contends the legislative move was meant to discourage Republican opponents to O'Malley and says he is still weighing legal action.
He also railed against O'Malley's proposal to make it illegal for companies to misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid paying taxes and benefits. He contends that the governor's plan would have devastated the construction industry he represents. The legislature enacted an amended version that Pappas said is "manageable."
But Pappas' main focus has been to put a campaign apparatus in place. He has secured a domain name for his Web site, www.pappas2010.com, and has kept major potential donors abreast of his activities in case he doesn't take public financing. Taking public funds would limit him to about $2 million in a general election, an amount O'Malley already has in the bank. He also has recruited longtime state politicos such as Don Murphy, a GOP consultant and former state lawmaker.
