County officials', candidates' war chests ramp up

Since the 2006 election, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has raised $912,686, according to campaign finance reports, and he's got another big fundraising event planned for late March that should put him well over the $1 million mark.

In the most recent annual report filed this month, 65 percent of the $364,277 Ulman collected in the past year - $236,000 - came in chunks of $1,000 or more.

All those large donations came from 163 gifts ranging up to the $4,000 legal limit, often from developers and business interests, including vehicle dealers, construction firms, lawyers, the operators of Merriweather Post Pavilion and the Virgin Mobile Festival organizers, who held their event at Merriweather last summer. Slightly more than one-third of the total he has raised in the past three years was spent along the way, much of it for salaries and fundraising expenses.

Also in the latest report, Ulman got $14,850 in political action committee money, including $2,000 each from the county's police and firefighters union. Since the last election, those two unions' PACs have contributed a combined $11,850. According to the report, Ulman spent $94,703.82 and had $573,183 on hand.

The executive makes no apologies for his prolific fundraising.

"I work hard at it," he said of developing relationships with people he meets. He said that sometimes, later, he calls them to ask for donations. Ulman, like other county elected officials and candidates, has always maintained that money is required to run a successful campaign, but despite the suspicions of some, donors don't get preferential treatment or consideration.

"We have people who can afford larger contributions. I'm really pleased we have a range of contributors," he said. "I'm glad to have the support of the business community."

Trent Kittleman, the former Ehrlich administration Cabinet official planning to run against Ulman, reported raising $11,460, with $8,038 on hand. The unannounced candidate has a fundraising event scheduled next month.

Other reports provide a few other interesting tidbits.

County Councilman Calvin Ball, an east Columbia Democrat, reported raising a middling $24,293 and has $56,182 on hand, but more than 60 percent of his money also came from business people and developers, many of whom attended an April fundraising event he held.

"I'm honored to be supported by a broad spectrum of my community," Ball said. "People give what they can, whether it's volunteering, or a $10 check, or a $1,000 check." He said his votes for county schools or public safety, for example, aren't determined by how much he received from those interest groups.

Anthony Jordan, a Republican opposing Ball, reported raising $2,759 but has only $454 on hand.

Among state legislators who represent Howard County, Republican Dels. Warren E. Miller and Gail H. Bates might seem safe in their western county/Ellicott City District 9a that has consistently elected Republicans in recent years, but Democratic challenger Maryann Maher reported raising $40,679, and had $35,332 left, more than either of the incumbents. Maher got nearly half her money from five large donations from her father and siblings in Florida, the Dominican Republic and Quebec. Jon Weinstein, another Democrat running in that same district, reported $11,726 on hand from $15,150 raised.

Miller showed $27,571 on hand, and Bates had $27,478. They have another $4,282 in a joint account. Their district's state senator, Republican Allen H. Kittleman, the Senate minority leader, had $50,677.

Democrat Del. Guy Guzzone had more money than any other county legislator, with $130,567 in the bank. He said he's done nothing unusual to raise money this term.

"I have my events like everybody has their events. I'm really pleased I have that much support," he said. Guzzone's District 13 colleague Frank Turner reported $29,939 on hand, while Del. Shane Pendergrass had $80,467. The combined "Team 13" slate also reported $35,000 on hand. Republican Ed Priola, who hopes to unseat one of the three delegates, reported $2,546 on hand, while Jeff Robinson's report showed $7,520 raised with $4,438 unspent. GOP District 13 senate candidate Kyle Lorton had $12,220 compared to Democratic state Sen. James N. Robey's $73,102.

Howard's other Democratic state senator and the Senate majority leader, Edward J. Kasemeyer of District 12, reported $92,157 on hand. Del. James Malone, a Democrat, had $55,000 on hand, while Del. Steven DeBoy, who with Malone represents District 12a, including parts of Elkridge and Baltimore County, had $25,293. District 12b Del. Elizabeth Bobo runs in a single-member delegate district covering liberal west Columbia that has made her seemingly unbeatable. She had $54,227 on hand compared to the $2,035 Republican John Bailey raised. He had only $403 left.