Janet Owens

Maloney candidacy insults Republicans I would like to thank The Sun for its excellent and revealing feature on the supporters of the late Councilman Cliff Roop ("`Roop Troop' eyes Arundel race," June 3). It reveals the problem the GOP faces in Anne Arundel County in that it seems to attract "Republicans" of the ilk now supporting George Maloney. One wonders to what lengths they and their sort will go to "bring home the bacon." To what theory of government does this "Pork Troop" subscribe?

Owens, Glendening bypass panel's choice Gov. Glendening has appointed a member to the Board of Education who was not recommended by the nominating convention. Gov. Glendening reacted to the recommendation of County Executive Owens to appoint Konrad Wayson rather than the convention nominee Jim Snider to the at-large seat. Owens herself never contacted, interviewed or introduced herself to Mr. Snider, who among other respectable accomplishments boasts a Harvard MBA, as well as previous Board of Education experience.

Middle school initiative signals lack of reasoning Janet Owens made a courageous gesture in her budget talk by expressing "grave" reservations about the potentially disastrous middle school initiative in Anne Arundel County. The Board of Education's decision to forge ahead with this initiative in spite of lack of funding for reading resource teachers ("Board OKs plan again," May 3) was a sad commentary about this unelected board's lack of accountability. With the exception of President Paul Rudolph, not a single board member showed the slightest susceptibility to reason or evidence.

Miller denies urging opposition to Owens in run for executive Just when it seems County Executive Janet S. Owens and state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller have smoothed things over, along comes a new bump. Soon after the Democrats resolved their differences over a bill to block a Safeway strip mall in Deale, Owens heard the rumor: Miller wanted state Sen. Philip C. Jimeno, a Glen Burnie Democrat, to challenge her in next year's primary election. "If the goal is to promote the Republican Party, I think that would be the net effect," Owens said.

Development foes fight to preserve a way of life We have had a peaceful way of life in south Anne Arundel County for generations and have every right to continue it ("There's no Queen Janet," editorial, Oct. 11). We abhorred the development previously allowed. When Janet Owens, a south county native, was elected with promises of controlled growth and protection of the environment, we trusted her. She preserved some farm areas but has continually supported unwanted development here and in other areas of the county, disturbing the lives and well-being of citizens.

A new rule on paying for election recountsThe Sun has recommended that election recounts in certain close races should be paid for by taxpayers ("To err is not always human," editorial, Dec. 1).In fact, legislation enacted this year, which takes effect Jan. 1, added an exception to the general rule that a candidate for public office should pay the cost of a requested recount.The new exception provides that a candidate does not have to pay for a requested recount when the initial margin of difference between an apparent winner and a losing candidate with the highest number of votes is 0.1 percent or less of the total cast for those candidates.

SINCE HER stunning defeat of incumbent John G. Gary last week, Janet S. Owens hasn't had much time to prepare to take over Anne Arundel County government. Her transition is getting off the ground slowly, impeding any effort to make widespread changes upon taking office in less than a month.The only visible action so far has been appointment of a committee to examine the county's financial condition. Ms. Owens has yet to assemble groups to study various agencies and recommend department heads.

Her mother stood beside her that miserable night four years ago at Michael's Eighth Avenue catering hall in Glen Burnie when Janet S. Owens suffered a humiliating political defeat, losing in a landslide her bid to become court clerk.Dorothy Owens, then 71, looked at her genteel but stubborn daughter, who had spent her career as a social services administrator, and proclaimed that she was not meant for the "dirty" world of politics."She said, 'Never again! I never want you to get involved in a campaign again!

JANET S. OWENS beat incumbent Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary for one reason: She knew the paramount issue in this campaign was education. Mr. Gary mistakenly thought it was taxation, or fear of taxes. Her message carried the day.In many ways, Mr. Gary defeated himself. County residents favor lean and efficient government, but they also want a high quality of service.Mr. Gary's unrelenting war against the school board and the education system frightened the public. Many believed his heavy-handed efforts to rein in education spending might have ultimately hurt its quality.

Janet Owens and her husband, David M. Sheehan, have bankrolled her bid to unseat County Executive John G. Gary to the tune of $44,000. The couple's money, most of it in loans, makes up nearly one-third of the $136,500 Owens had raised through Oct. 18, according to campaign finance reports.The incumbent, meanwhile, improved his record-breaking money-raising effort to nearly $648,000 by that date. Gary, who has raised more money than any other candidate ever for Anne Arundel County executive, has nearly $79,000 in cash going into next week's general election, four times as much as Owens has available.