Incumbents

One of the challengers calls Mayor Sheila Dixon "queen for a day." It's a not-so-sly reference to the fact that Ms. Dixon became mayor not by a vote of the people but by succeeding Gov. Martin O'Malley. A more formal evocation of the tactic, used by most of the other challengers, is to call her "the interim mayor," as if the voters are just waiting to send her into retirement. City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, who succeeded Ms. Dixon, hears "interim" tacked to the front of her title as well.

THE STATUS QUO prevailed Tuesday among Carroll County voters, who seemed like most of the nation to prefer things politically much as they are. It was an election favoring conservatism with a small "c."Voters retained two different-thinking incumbents on the Carroll Board of Education, despite a well-financed, high-profile assault by an ultra-conservative tandem ticket.The 2-1 margin for Ann M. Ballard and Joseph D. Mish Jr. showed the electorate was largely unswayed by the challengers' ceaseless attacks on school budget priorities, administrative pay and student achievements.

Three Republicans -- two of them incumbents -- have filed to run for three Carroll County Orphans Court judge seats in the primary election this fall.The third incumbent said yesterday he has not decided whether to run.The newcomer in the race is Dorothy "Dottie" V. Utz, 66, of Westminster. She said she retired in December as manager of six Admiral Cleaners Inc. locations in Carroll.The two incumbents who have filed candidacy papers with the Board of Elections are:* Albert W. Selby, 74, of Sykesville, who is serving his second four-year term.

NEW ORLEANS -- For incumbents, this continues to be the year of living dangerously.In Louisiana Saturday, three-term Democratic Sen. J. Bennett Johnston narrowly escaped a stunning challenge from State Representative David Duke -- an improbable opponent, whose political baggage included service as the grand wizard of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan, ties to neo-Nazi and other anti-Semitic groups, fabrication of a war record in Vietnam and embarrassing disclosures...

The losses of two Democratic incumbent council members in Tuesday's primary election have given hope to the GOP in Baltimore County where no Republican has held county office since 1978.And even if Republican nominee Roger B. Hayden fails in his admittedly uphill struggle to beat well-financed County Executive Dennis F. Rasmussen, the GOP hopes to capture a County Council seat -- or two.Rep. Helen D. Bentley, R-2nd, said she thinks the defeat of incumbent council members Dale T. Volz, D-7th, and Norman W. Lauenstein, D-5th, and the close victory for Ronald B. Hickernell, nTC D-1st, "creates a definite opening" for Republicans.

LATELY, the news in 11th Legislative District, which sprawls across western and northwestern Baltimore County, has focused on the less than harmonious relationship among the Democratic incumbents: Sen. Paula C. Hollinger and Delegates Michael J. Finifter, Robert Frank and Dan K. Morhaim.At this point, the conflicts are of interest mostly to political insiders.For primary voters, the question is whether the incumbent zTC delegates, completing their first term, will be able to provide effective representation despite their differences or whether constituents would be better served by one or more of three challengers.

The vigorous crusade by three newcomers who put up numerous signs and went door to door in the 4,500-resident town in South Carroll helped them oust three incumbents who ran a lackluster campaign for seats on Sykesville's Town Council, Mayor Jonathan Herman said yesterday. Pharmaceutical representative Frank Robert, accountant Scott D. Sanzone and attorney and real estate agent Leo J. Keenan III defeated Council President Mark Rychwalski and incumbents Russ Vreeland and Jim Kelley in Tuesday's municipal election.

WASHINGTON -- When it comes to campaign finances, the eight members of Maryland's House delegation are on easy street compared with their challengers in the November general election. And this pattern holds nationally, according to Common Cause.In a survey of 1989-1990 campaign contributions thus far, Common Cause found that 95 percent of 403 incumbents seeking re-election this fall are either "financially unopposed" or are engaged in races that are "financially non-competitive."Common Cause, a public interest group that focuses on governmental ethics, defined "financially unopposed" as being unopposed or having an opponent who has raised less than $25,000.

At first glance, the Baltimore County Council's two most experienced politicians -- both Democrats -- would appear to be formidable targets for the pair of novice Republicans trying to unseat them.In the 5th District, Perry Hall Democrat Vincent J. Gardina has two terms behind him, a healthy campaign treasury and bragging rights for everything from the demolition of the Riverdale apartments to tighter regulations of tattoos.Likewise, 6th District incumbent Joseph Bartenfelder of Fullerton -- a former three-term state delegate and a farmer with deep roots in the northeastern county -- expects to retain his seat.

Six residents are challenging four incumbents for seats on the Sykesville Town Council, and the mayor faces a challenger in the town's elections May 1 after all candidates for elective office declared their intentions at a council meeting last night. "This is a great town, and I like being part of it," said Mayor Jonathan S. Herman, who is seeking a third term. "We are all going to try to run together. There are so many things going on that we want to finish." Ted Campbell, a self-employed contractor, will run against Herman.