County Republican Party

The way Republican state delegate candidate Todd Arterburn sees it, Columbia has two kinds of residents: those who came years ago to take part in James W. Rouse's idealistic experiment for a planned community, and those who came more recently in search of a quiet suburban city with practical benefits of good schools and low crime.Think of it as the old Columbia vs. a newer one -- a key theme of Arterburn's campaign to unseat Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Bobo in District 12B on Nov. 3."She definitely represents that old Columbia," said Arterburn, 36, a banker-turned-golf-course-developer who is making his first run for elective office.

Almost seven weeks after jumping into the race for Baltimore County executive, Republican John J. Bishop has raised $1,000 to counter incumbent Democrat C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, whose fund is 749 times larger."

GREENBELT -- Michael S. Steele, chairman of the Prince George's County Republican Party, emerged from the pack seeking the GOP nomination for comptroller yesterday with the enthusiastic endorsement of gubernatorial front-runner Ellen R. Sauerbrey.Sauerbrey hailed the 39-year-old conservative activist as a man who "took on the establishment and won" when he led a 1996 referendum campaign to preserve the county property tax cap known as TRIM.She added that Steele "has been in the forefront of recruiting minorities to the party of Abraham Lincoln."

It was an intriguing strategy for Anne Arundel County's dwindling Democratic Party: Recruit the second most visible Republican in this increasingly conservative county to run as a Democrat against the Republican county executive.The theory was that the Democrats might be able to sneak back to the top of the political hill by using a Republican to steal Republican voters and a Democratic label to lock in the Democratic voters.It didn't work. Democratic voters in Tuesday's primary saw the party's recruit, Diane R. Evans, as an elephant in sheep's clothing -- a Republican trying to fool them -- and chose Janet S. Owens as their nominee, according to local political observers.

An article in Friday's Howard County edition of The Sun misreported the amount that County Councilman Dennis R. Schrader has raised for his county executive campaign. The correct amount is $110,000.The Sun regrets the error.Howard County Councilman Dennis R. Schrader formally entered the race for county executive last night, promising to cut taxes, moderate growth and improve a school system already considered the best in the state.Schrader, 45, an ambitious engineer who lives in Columbia's Kings Contrivance village, is battling veteran Councilman Charles C. Feaga, 65, in what could be the most hotly contested primary election in the history of Howard's Republican Party.

Slow-growth activist John W. Taylor's battle for the hearts and minds of western Howard County residents ended quietly this week, along with his 22-month tryst with the Democratic Party.He lost his battle over the pastures and subdivisions of Glenelg, West Friendship and Clarksville in November's County Council election. But he lost his affection for the Democratic Party because of President Clinton's recognition of Vietnam.Mr. Taylor, who lost County Council contests as a Republican in 1990 and as a Democrat in 1994, announced this week that he was closing his campaign finance account and would not seek office "in the foreseeable future."

Republican William J. Frank, a 34-year-old bank vice president with deep roots in the party and a deep dislike for the federal deficit, promises to make the 2nd District congressional campaign a lively one as he launches his bid tonight to win the seat occupied by Rep. Helen Delich Bentley.Although he has never run for office, the Rodgers Forge resident is a longtime activist who said he intends to provide spirited competition for Del. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the only other Republican and the early favorite to succeed Mrs. Bentley, who is running for governor.

In the Nov. 5 Howard section, a chart showing how each county council district voted in the presidential race had the incorrect district map. The corrected map with the vote totals is above.The same story incorrectly characterized a statement by Carol Arscott, chairwoman of the Howard County Republican Party. Ms. Arscott does not believe that a third party will do well in the 1994 elections.The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.Howard County Democrats, battered in local elections two years ago, say President-elect Bill Clinton's victory here puts the party in good shape for 1994.

Republicans traveling to Houston for our party's convention have at least one thing in common with the Democrats who just returned from New York: We all have the unenviable chore of explaining why the band is playing ''O, Christmas Tree'' while our home-grown political stars are introduced to the assembled delegates.For a state that has enough parochial pride to designate a state tree, flower, fossil, crustacean, insect, ship and dog, we sure do have a lousy song. And no acceptable alternative . . . or so I once thought.

J. Joseph Curran Jr., Maryland's Democratic attorney general and governor wannabe, worked the big Timonium fund-raiser crowd in his relaxed, friendly style.Dale Anderson, the former Baltimore County executive and Democratic party leader, munched hors d'oeuvres with his wife, Doris, as they greeted old friends.James A. Pine, who led the county's once-dominant east-side Democratic organization, did the same.Once bitter political enemies of anything that smacked of the GOP, these and a host of other Democrats appeared more than willing to forget the old partisan wars and turn out Wednesday for County Executive Roger B. Hayden and his brand of almost non-partisan Republicanism.

WASHINGTON -- With Sen. John McCain securing his party's nomination this week, many Republicans in Maryland and across the country are coming to grips with a candidate who was not their first choice. "I have a pretty long list of concerns, but Republicans tend to be loyalists," said Michael D. Zimmer, a Carroll County commissioner who originally backed Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado. "I don't think there will be quite the same level of intensity at the grass roots for McCain as for, say, a Mitt Romney."

The citizens of Harford County face a crucial decision on Feb. 12. We must choose a person to serve as a judge on the Circuit Court. I believe that Charles Wagner is the best person for the job. In fact, the Republican Central Committee of Harford County has endorsed Wagner. Wagner has served our community for years as a volunteer and as a general practice attorney. He has shown a real concern for victims of crimes and those in need. His demeanor is reserved and he will use restraint in applying the law as it is written.

Standing at dawn beside a busy road in Ellicott City on a recent chilly morning, Tony Salazar wore a fixed smile above his pressed shirt, tie and blue blazer. He waved his hands vigorously at passing commuters from behind a large white-and-red campaign sign, drawing an occasional horn toot or a wave. "In a way, this one for me is a lot more pleasant because I know a lot more people," he said, comparing his current quest for the District 1 seat on the Howard County Council to his unsuccessful 2004 campaign for Maryland's 7th District congressional seat.

Harford GOP has too few true members I noticed that The Sun endorsed every switch-o-crat (defined as a Democrat who switches parties because the county is trending Republican) running in Tuesday's Republican primary. Consistent with your endorsements, every switch-o-crat was apparently successful in the primary elections. Although you did not endorse in the Register of Wills race, recent party-switcher Harry Hopkins is holding a slight lead over local GOP leader Bill Christoforo in that race.

Howard County State's Attorney Timothy J. McCrone announced this week he is seeking a second term as the county's top prosecutor. At a fundraiser at Yingling-Ridgely VFW Post 7472 in Ellicott City, McCrone told supporters that he never forgets that the county's quality of life depends "in significant measure on public safety and justice." "Our children, our businesses and our senior citizens can only thrive in a community where we cherish safety and justice," McCrone said Wednesday evening, surrounded by a crowd of more than 150 at the event that grossed about $15,000.

MARYLAND Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele isn't looking for a house to buy in Howard County, but it does seem as if he is visiting more often as political activity picks up at summer's end. Steele, a Republican and likely candidate for the U.S. Senate, attended the county Republican Party golf tournament Tuesday at Waverly Woods, and he is due back in a few weeks for Republican County Councilman Christopher J. Merdon's $150-a-ticket fundraiser Sept. 22. Steele is not saying when or if he will announce his candidacy for the Senate seat from which Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes is retiring next year, but one attendee said Steele told local party faithful that Howard is a wealthy county, and he will need its residents' help if he does run. Howard County Councilman Charles C. Feaga said Steele told the GOP faithful that "being rich, we have more responsibility to make things happen.

WITH BLUE "Merdon, County Executive" signs plastered everywhere, the annual Howard County Republican party's Lincoln Day Dinner at Turf Valley looked more like the launching of the county councilman's 2006 campaign than what it was - a fund-raising gathering for the party. County Councilman Christopher J. Merdon, the Ellicott City Republican expected to oppose council Chairman Guy Guzzone, a North Laurel-Savage Democrat, for the county executive's job next year, was also out sign waving with a group of supporters early Wednesday morning at Broken Land and Little Patuxent parkways.

HOWARD COUNTY'S next election is 20 months away, but party leaders are already working to field strong candidate slates. The county executive's job and at least three of the five County Council seats will be without incumbents and up for grabs, and several General Assembly seats might also come open. "We started working on the candidates and building a list a year ago," said Brian Harlin, vice chairman of the county Republican Party and a former County Council candidate. He has a list of 15 to 20 people who might run, he said.

A memorial service for state Sen. Robert H. Kittleman isn't scheduled until Tuesday, but the Howard County Republican Party is advertising for candidates to replace him and plans a final vote Sept. 29, said Howard Rensin, county party chairman. Most Republicans are publicly declining to speculate about a replacement for Kittleman, 78, who died Saturday of leukemia, as maneuvering for the job goes on behind the scenes. "It's a public process that's not public," said Donald F. Norris, a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Howard County Republicans are so outraged by the large increase in local income taxes enacted by County Executive James N. Robey and the majority Democrats, they are advertising it in large, black print. But the party's concern with what it terms "OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING!" in the ads, which have run in The Sun and several Howard County weeklies, ignores the spending decisions of a Republican president and GOP-controlled Congress. Those decisions are predicted to produce a $477 billion deficit this year, rising to $521 billion next year in President Bush's proposed budget, which calls for making federal income tax cuts permanent.