Former two-term Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens announced Wednesday that she will not seek a return to the office.
Owens, a Democrat who served from 1998 to 2007, had been considering a challenge to County Executive John R. Leopold, a Republican who filed for re-election last week. Joanna Conti, a Democrat and business executive from Annapolis, is also running.
Owens, 66, said a number of factors shaped her decision, including polls showing that her road to victory would require negative campaigning. Owens said she also considered her age, her family's objections and the county's current financial situation.
"John is a formidable candidate," said Owens, who lives in Crownsville. "It would require a factually negative campaign, and that's just not me."
"My administration is proud of its record of fiscal discipline, environmental protection and economic development," Leopold said in a statement responding to Owens' announcement. "If re-elected, we hope to build on that record in a second term."
A spokesman for Conti said in a statement: "Our county owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Janet Owens for her many years of service. We would very much appreciate her advice during the coming months as we continue our fight to restore fiscal responsibility, accessibility, and true leadership to the executive's office."
Owens, who since leaving public office has served as chairwoman of the foundation board of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, said she's not ruling out politics in the future.
"I'll never say never," Owens said. "I loved being county executive and making a difference in people's lives."