Campaign Reports

Gov. Parris N. Glendening's re-election campaign is saying no to requests for an electronic copy of his campaign finance report due this week. Ellen R. Sauerbrey, his likely Republican challenger, is saying yes.Robin O. Oegerle, the governor's campaign treasurer, cited technological obstacles and the fact that candidates are not legally required to provide copies of the reports on computer discs.She said that when the State Administrative Board of Elections adopts a standard format for electronic delivery of the annual finance reports, "We'll be one of the first to convert."

On Oct. 8, with less than a month remaining before the November election, Discovery Communications Inc. gave Gov. Parris N. Glendening a boost in vote-rich Montgomery County by announcing it would locate its world headquarters in downtown Silver Spring.Since then, state and company officials have been in discussions on a package of financial incentives to help the Bethesda-based parent of the Discovery Channel with an expansion that is expected to add 300 jobs to its current local work force of 800.Less than three weeks after the governor and other officials gathered for the jubilant announcement, the chairman of Discovery and his wife showed their appreciation with two checks totaling $8,000 to Glendening's election campaign fund.

WASHINGTON -- In a long-shot gamble to try to boost his flagging campaign, Bob Dole appealed to Ross Perot yesterday to drop out of the presidential race and throw his support behind the Republican nominee, according to an informed source and national news reports.Trailing by double digits in the polls less than two weeks before Election Day, Dole dispatched his campaign manager, Scott Reed, to Dallas to speak with the Texas billionaire and to ask for his endorsement on behalf of Dole.Neither Dole nor Perot had any comment yesterday on the meeting.

In more than 30 states, if a corporate chieftain were to ask top executives to contribute to a politician, an inquisitive voter could easily learn that the firm was bankrolling the candidate. But not in Maryland. Campaigns are not required to disclose the occupation and employer of large contributors. That will change as of June 1 if Gov. Martin O'Malley signs legislation approved by the General Assembly that would require campaigns to gather such information from donors who give $500 or more to a single candidate during a four-year election cycle.

Dick Gelfman, one of Baltimore's most prominent television journalists, has emerged in recent months as the media guru of his wife's campaign for Howard County Circuit judge -- using equipment and services rented from his employer, WJZ-TV, to help make her campaign ads.The practice raises ethical issues for Gelfman and the station, which permitted the rental for campaign use.It also calls into question the accuracy of a campaign financial disclosure report...

Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the Republican nominee for governor, reported Tuesday that he and running mate Mary Kane have raised more than $2.8 million since the end of August. "We like where we are right now," Ehrlich said after a campaign event in Baltimore County, adding that last-minute donations were coming in "fast and furious. " The Ehrlich campaign had about $1.77 million left in the bank as of Sunday night, spokesman Henry Fawell said. He said that 98 percent of the money raised came from Maryland families and small businesses and that the campaign took out no loans.

Money may make the political world go 'round but not in Howard County, based on annual campaign finance reports filed last week. While Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. reported raising $2.5 million and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley took in almost $1.9 million, Howard politicians typically raised less than $30,000 each, sometimes far less. "I haven't had a fund-raiser for five years. I have a long history of that," said Republican state Sen. Robert H. Kittleman. Kittleman's report was filled with zeros, except for $5,682 remaining from earlier contributions.

Baltimore Believe has inspired thousands to seek drug treatment, but more than two-thirds are still awaiting help, according to a report to be released today on the first five months of the anti-drug campaign. That mix of good news and bad can be found throughout the 39-page progress report -- an indication, Believe officials say, that the $2.1 million campaign has made a dent in the city's drug problem but still has a long way to go. "I think it's good information. I don't think it's anything to declare victory over," said Walter D. "Wally" Pinkard, co-chairman of the campaign.

WASHINGTON -- Efforts by the Chinese government to influence American elections in 1996 did not have any impact on the presidential campaign, according to a draft report prepared by Democrats on the Senate committee investigating campaign finance abuses.The declassified report by the Democrats, which was provided to the New York Times, sought to counter one of the most explosive accusations of the campaign finance scandal and contradicted assertions in the report prepared by Republicans on the committee.

THE NASTINESS that marked last year's state Senate race between incumbent Frederick Republican Alex X. Mooney and former Democratic Del. Sue Hecht has extended well past Election Day. For the past year, Hecht campaign staffers have waged a struggle with the Maryland State Board of Elections to compel Mooney - the victor in a race marked by a campaign office burglary and Web-address squatting - to correct error-riddled campaign finance reports. They say that the state elections board has dragged its feet in its responsibilities, and that Mooney has attempted to intimidate Hecht's campaign treasurer into abandoning her questioning.