War Chest

Attorney GeneralDouglas F. Gansler, the first of the expected Democratic contenders for the 2014 gubernatorial nomination to report his fund-raising totals for last year, now has more than $4 million in the bank after taking in more than $1 million in 2011. Several hours before the filing deadline, Gansler reported that he has almost  $4.1 million on hand. He listed total receipts between Jan. 13, 2011, and Jan. 11, 2012,of $1.2 million. Gansler, who did not have to spend heavily on his re-election bid in 2010, came into the year with $2.9 million.

Apple today announced what many were expecting, given its huge war chest of around $100 billion in cash: future stock dividends and a stock repurchasing program. The company released the news in a conference call early Monday. It's amassed a huge pile of cash in recent years thanks to the runaway successes of its iPhone and iPad, a smartphone and a tablet, respectively, that are dominant in their categories. Apple said it plans a quarterly dividend of $2.65 a share sometime in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, which begins in July.

BY RAISING money at a record rate before next year's election, Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary is doing what comes naturally to incumbents facing re-election: Accumulate as much cash as possible to deter potential challengers.His $370,000 to date is on pace to top the $475,577 raised by Robert R. Neall in 1990 -- and all this without a declared opponent.As the county's top elected official, Mr. Gary is in the position to tap many pools of money to fill a campaign war chest.The most obvious targets are companies and people who do business with the county.

I am certain that the staff in Obama headquarters in Chicago were euphoric after Rick Santorum's primary and caucus victories Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. They may hardly have to use their expected $1 billion campaign war chest as the Republican Party continues to implode. It is possible the social conservatives' and the tea party's dislike of Mitt Romney will force him to move so far to the right that independents and moderate Republicans will not be able to vote for him in the general election, thus ensuring President Obama's victory.

City Council President Lawrence A. Bell III, who has compiled the largest war chest in Baltimore's mayoral race, received his strongest support from contractors, unions and gambling and entertainment interests.According to reports filed this week, contributors to Bell range from the Club Pussycat on Baltimore's Block, which gave $500, to the production company of boxing promoter Don King, which gave $4,000.Among the labor organizations was the International Union of Electricians, which gave $6,000; among the business people was contractor Pless Jones, who contributed $7,000 through two of his companies.

Parris N. Glendening has been Maryland's governor for less than a year and the September 1998 primary is still some 33 months away. But the Democrat from Prince George's County is already back on the fund-raising circuit.Some say he never left it.For months now, Mr. Glendening and his supporters have been quietly but steadily stockpiling money for a race that is unlikely to begin in earnest for at least two years.The governor has held a series of five relatively small but pricey-up to $1 000-a ticket-fund-raisers around the state this fall that, by themselves, brought in around $250,000.

I am certain that the staff in Obama headquarters in Chicago were euphoric after Rick Santorum's primary and caucus victories Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. They may hardly have to use their expected $1 billion campaign war chest as the Republican Party continues to implode. It is possible the social conservatives' and the tea party's dislike of Mitt Romney will force him to move so far to the right that independents and moderate Republicans will not be able to vote for him in the general election, thus ensuring President Obama's victory.

Scores of Jack Cade's closest friends paid a tidy bundle last night to fete the state senator in Baltimore.The $500-a-ticket reception at the Harbor View Marina and Yacht Club drew more than 250 guests by 7:30 p.m. and raised at least $125,000 for Mr. Cade's campaign war chest, an organizer said.All of which raises the question: What office is the man running for?Sen. John A. Cade, the curmudgeonly Republican from Anne Arundel County, isn't saying.Last night's event, the biggest fund-raiser of his 20-year career in the state Senate, was about giving him options for 1998, Mr. Cade said.

The Linton Springs Civic Association is considering building a legal war chest to fight the development of Belt Farm, which they say could add much unwanted traffic to their only access to Liberty Road."

Apple today announced what many were expecting, given its huge war chest of around $100 billion in cash: future stock dividends and a stock repurchasing program. The company released the news in a conference call early Monday. It's amassed a huge pile of cash in recent years thanks to the runaway successes of its iPhone and iPad, a smartphone and a tablet, respectively, that are dominant in their categories. Apple said it plans a quarterly dividend of $2.65 a share sometime in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, which begins in July.

The race to become Howard County's next executive is shaping up, with potential candidates stashing money in the bank for the chance to replace term-limited Ken Ulman, who is considering a run for higher office. Campaign finance reports, released this week, show potential contenders gearing up ahead of the 2014 election, including Del. Guy Guzzone and Howard County Councilwoman Courtney Watson, who are Democrats, and Republican Sen. Allan Kittleman. Guzzone said he banked roughly $92,000 in 2011 and has a balance of about $192,000.

Attorney GeneralDouglas F. Gansler, the first of the expected Democratic contenders for the 2014 gubernatorial nomination to report his fund-raising totals for last year, now has more than $4 million in the bank after taking in more than $1 million in 2011. Several hours before the filing deadline, Gansler reported that he has almost  $4.1 million on hand. He listed total receipts between Jan. 13, 2011, and Jan. 11, 2012,of $1.2 million. Gansler, who did not have to spend heavily on his re-election bid in 2010, came into the year with $2.9 million.

Are the politicians in this country, as well as the state, so brain dead and insensitive to the plight of the people of Maryland as to even consider a gas tax increase ("Mayor, county chiefs line up behind gas tax," March 2)? The price of gas is rising daily, and these morons expect us to be able to pay 10 cents more. Where do they think we're going to get it from? It doesn't grow on trees. The public is not the savior for your past follies, and you had better pay attention to what your doing before you create a revolt.

S ince 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.

Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. has been raising money for months for an all-but-declared campaign for state comptroller. But this week he announced he's not going to run. That surely must be an annoyance for the donors who pushed his account to well upward of $1 million, but it has the potential to do much more damage to the integrity (using the word loosely) of Maryland's campaign finance system. Mr. Smith is the charter member of the Baltimore County Victory Slate, an entity under Maryland campaign finance law designed to allow like-minded candidates to pool their resources.

City Council President Lawrence A. Bell III, who has compiled the largest war chest in Baltimore's mayoral race, received his strongest support from contractors, unions and gambling and entertainment interests.According to reports filed this week, contributors to Bell range from the Club Pussycat on Baltimore's Block, which gave $500, to the production company of boxing promoter Don King, which gave $4,000.Among the labor organizations was the International Union of Electricians, which gave $6,000; among the business people was contractor Pless Jones, who contributed $7,000 through two of his companies.

With the election a year away, Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary already is close to breaking the record for political fund-raising by a candidate for his job.Campaign contribution reports filed yesterday with the state show the Republican had raised $459,020 through Nov. 3. Robert R. Neall set the record at $475,577 when he ran in 1990.Seven of the 10 top contributors to Gary's war chest are developers or companies that do business with the county, according to a Sun analysis of the reports.

Are the politicians in this country, as well as the state, so brain dead and insensitive to the plight of the people of Maryland as to even consider a gas tax increase ("Mayor, county chiefs line up behind gas tax," March 2)? The price of gas is rising daily, and these morons expect us to be able to pay 10 cents more. Where do they think we're going to get it from? It doesn't grow on trees. The public is not the savior for your past follies, and you had better pay attention to what your doing before you create a revolt.

Maud Cabot Morgan, 96, an artist who exhibited with Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman and was a mentor to Frank Stella and Carl Andre, died Sunday in Cambridge, Mass. Ms. Morgan worked in abstract and representational styles. She drew and painted in watercolors, oils, and gouache, created collages, made prints and worked with handmade paper. In New York, her work was bought by the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum.Stefan Schnabel, 87, an actor known for his portrayal of Middle European characters onstage, in films and on television, died March 11 in Rogaro, Italy.

As soon as James P. Hoffa entered the smoke-filled bar in South Philadelphia, 80 Teamsters burst into wild applause, with several rushing up to ask him for an autograph."