By John O'Connor
Capital News Service
Friday, Sept. 6, 2002

BALTIMORE - Baltimore Mayor Martin J. O'Malley, wrapping his arms
around William Donald Schaefer, made his choice for comptroller in the state
Democratic primary perfectly clear.

"He's my comptroller," said O'Malley Thursday at a lunchtime campaign
stop at Baltimore's Lexington Market. "Mayor for life. Comptroller for life."

Even though he's a former governor, former mayor of Baltimore and the incumbent, Schaefer could still use the hug.

Schaefer expected little challenge for re-election to the state's chief tax collection job, but then Secretary of State John T. Willis stepped in on the final day of the filing period.

With Tuesday's primary approaching, the incumbent is feeling a little taxed.

Willis is largely unknown in most of the state, but has 30 years of political experience, as well as backing from his mentor, Gov. Parris N. Glendening. When Glendening was Prince George's County executive, Willis served
as his chief of staff.

Raising Willis' profile the most - and the ire of Schaefer backers - are a
series of radio ads bankrolled by Glendening that claim the comptroller
has been insensitive to minorities and women, often referring to women as "little
girls."

There's little love lost between Glendening and Schaefer. The two often clash at the state's Board of Public Works meetings, where they are two of the
three board members.

Willis' campaign is another example of Glendening's "petty" grudge against
Schaefer, said Michael D. Golden, Schaefer's spokesman.

"It's been manufactured and abetted by the governor," he said. "It's the
only reason John Willis is running."

The ads have rallied support for Schaefer, which is why he, O'Malley and
other Democratic city leaders such as Delegate Howard P. Rawlings and Sen.
Clarence M. Mitchell engaged in some traditional Baltimore-style campaigning
Thursday.

Schaefer defended his service and his style, especially his battles with
Glendening on the board, which must approve all state contracts more than
$200,000.

"When he's (Glendening) wrong and I want to find out how he's spending the
money, I ask tough questions," said Schaefer. "I don't believe in his policies.
He spent money he didn't have.

"If you look at the record, I've been mayor, governor and comptroller, and
we have the best comptroller's office in the country."

Willis is campaigning on three fronts, said Ray McInerney, Willis' spokesman: "respect of the issues Marylanders care about; respect for the office
of comptroller; and respect for the party."

Willis has criticized Schaefer for his opposition to land preservation, saying that he, Willis, is the more progressive candidate. New radio ads out this week back up that stance.

McInerney said Willis would also use the comptroller's office to more vigorously support public education and support a new federal study of the
Inter-county Connector.

Although Schaefer enjoys far better name recognition among Maryland voters, Willis has closed some of the gap, and recent polls show Schaefer's support was weakening in his home base of Baltimore.

An August poll released by Gonzales/Arscott Research showed Schaefer holding a 25-point lead, with 27 percent of voters still undecided. But Willis'
support grew five points to 23 percent from July to August.

Willis has also won support from the Sierra Club, the Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police and the Association of State, County and Municipal
Employees, a union with 30,000 members statewide.

Schaefer lengthened the work week without increasing compensation and opposed collective bargaining for state employees while governor, said
an AFSCME spokeswoman. The union wants him off the Board of Public Works, where all state employee financial issues are vetted, she said.

Schaefer is still a formidable opponent with much support in the party.

Gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend has endorsed
Schaefer, and some state black leaders have accused Glendening of race
baiting in the ads he sponsored.

Also looming in the background is the projected $1 billion budget deficit
facing the state next year, a product of the Glendening administration.

"He does a terrific job as comptroller," said O'Malley of Schaefer. "I
only wished we had listened to him a year ago when he was warning us
about these budget deficits."

Willis' support is stronger than most believe, said McInerney.

"He's got this amazing network across the state of Democratic
activists," he said. "He's got a good sense of where their heads are."

Copyright © 2002 University of Maryland College of Journalism