The two Democrats running for the state Senate in District 13 are veteran lawmakers with similar political ideologies but widely differing leadership styles.
And in that highly competitive race, style itself has become an issue, as the candidates blast away at each other's approach to the job and debate which approach better serves Howard County.
Del. Virginia M. Thomas of District 13A who is challenging incumbent Sen. Thomas M. Yeager in District 13 insists that her sometimes-aggressive, highly visible technique is more than just style -- and that it produces more results.
The 53-year-old Columbia resident describes herself as a fighter with a long list of achievements in Annapolis. She says she is dedicated to solving community problems, securing money for county projects and passing statewide health legislation.
She charges that Mr. Yeager -- and the Republican-dominated Howard delegation -- has been ineffective in bringing benefits back to Howard. Also, the incumbent either isn't aware of, or hasn't addressed, community concerns in his district, she says.
"If he does so much for constituents, why do people from outside my district ask me to solve a problem [in Mr. Yeager's district]?" Ms. Thomas asks. "Why isn't he around to know what the problems are?"
Mr. Yeager counters by labeling Ms. Thomas a self-promoter who takes more credit for accomplishments than she is due. He says he's effective in a low-key manner, handling constituents' problems through official channels rather than drawing attention through community meetings.
"I probably solve as many constituent problems as she does," says Mr. Yeager, 57, of Fulton. "It's something we all do, but I don't call the press when I do it and have a ceremony with the lights turned on."
The two Democrats are vying to represent a newly redrawn district that includes east Columbia, Highland, Fulton, Guilford, Savage and the Laurel area extending into Prince George's County.
Ms. Thomas represents east Columbia and Guilford.
The Sept. 13 primary winner will face Del. Martin G. Madden, a District 13B Republican who is unopposed for the nomination.
District 13 has 25,758 registered Democrats and 16,228 Republicans.
The two Democrats have served on the Howard delegation for 12 years. But during the past four-year term, Ms. Thomas says she became increasingly frustrated with what she considers the delegation's lack of clout.
The session ended acrimoniously, with several delegation members, including Mr. Yeager, accusing Ms. Thomas of costing the county nearly $2 million for a new high school project by circumventing the delegation and requesting more money for older schools in her district instead.
Ms. Thomas, who secured financing for a school heating and air conditioning project, denies that any money was lost, saying that no projects had been approved or guarantees made by the state board that awards school construction money.
The late-session awards granted for competing school projects statewide are "highly political," Ms. Thomas says. "It's hardball politics at that point. You're either going to get it or someone else will get it for their district."
She claims that she has been more effective in securing money for school projects in her district -- such as roof repairs and additions --than other delegation members, as evidenced by letters from state officials.
Mr. Yeager says Ms. Thomas overestimates her influence. The delegation has always worked as a team, agreeing on priorities for school construction and lobbying state officials, he says. "We've never tried to be self-serving and get projects at the expense of other districts," he says.
Del. Robert L. Flanagan, a 14B District Republican, agrees with Mr. Yeager, saying that monetary awards are based more on a project's merit than any individual legislator's pull. He says Mr. Yeager is "a delight" to work with, but Ms. Thomas is not.
"Tom Yeager has worked very effectively in a bipartisan fashion within the delegation," Mr. Flanagan says. "Basically Tom is always receptive to ideas and quite candid on where he stands."
Ms. Thomas says delegation members have criticized her for "fighting for people."
"I'm not going to apologize for that. I'll continue to do that. It gets results," she says.
Despite problems within the delegation, Ms. Thomas, who is vice chairwoman of the House Environmental Matters Committee, insists that she has earned the admiration of other colleagues and constituents.
"I am a team player in Annapolis," she says. "You can't get bills passed if you can't work within the system."
Adil Shamoo, a Columbia resident and member of Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maryland, says he was impressed with Ms. Thomas' leading role in the passage of a bill prohibiting discrimination by health insurers against people with mental health or substance abuse problems.
"She's an excellent mediator and listener to all sides," says Mr. Shamoo, a biochemistry and ethics professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "She works for her individual constituents and shows passion and understanding."
Del. Lawrence A. LaMotte, a Baltimore County legislator who has worked with Ms. Thomas for 12 years on the environmental committee, says she has been a strong and forceful voice for Howard County and very effective in shaping health care policy.
"It's hard to find legislators who are effective and can get things ,, done, and she happens to be one," says Mr. LaMotte, who isn't running for re-election.
Mr. Yeager has supporters in high places. The campaign organization for Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. contributed $2,500 to Mr. Yeager's campaign.
Mr. Miller credits Mr. Yeager, a member of the Senate's budget committee, with helping maintain the state's high bond rating and control spending during the recession. He describes Mr. Yeager as a reliable, "law-and-order" senator who has "good core values."
"He's not flamboyant," Mr. Miller says. "When he stands up to speak, he grips the microphone with earnestness, and the Senate listens to what he has to say."
Mr. Yeager, an equipment salesman for Hewlett-Packard Co., and Ms. Thomas, whose background is in psychiatric social work, ran successfully on the same slate for County Council in 1974. After two terms, each won General Assembly seats in 1982.
Ms. Thomas has led efforts in Annapolis to ban smoking in public places, citing that issue as a major difference between her and the incumbent.
Mr. Yeager says he is undecided on a comprehensive smoking ban, adding that it may be too much of a burden on businesses.
In this campaign, Mr. Yeager received a $500 campaign contribution from Phillip Morris USA, a major cigarette manufacturer. Since November, Ms. Thomas has received more than $10,000 in contributions from health- and medical-related interest groups.
Mr. Yeager says his top priority is economic development. He suggests offering more incentives to existing Maryland businesses, such as low-interest loans and tax deferments.
The two differ greatly on taxation, Mr. Yeager says, particularly .. on the $250 million tax increase package of 1992, which Mr. Yeager opposed and which Ms. Thomas supported.
Ms. Thomas contends that County Executive Charles I. Ecker urged legislators to support the increase to avoid harmful cuts in county services.
As a senator, Mr. Yeager says he is most proud of his work on child abuse and neglect issues and victims' rights, including legislation to allow more methods for bringing evidence into the courtroom.
As a delegate, Ms. Thomas has led efforts to reform health care, reduce lead paint hazards and increase recycling. She says she was instrumental in securing state money for a Columbia adult day care center and a pilot counseling program for dysfunctional families.
Ms. Thomas says she wants to work on long-term care for the elderly, seek solutions to overcrowding at Hammond Middle School and address a parkland shortage in the Savage area.
Both candidates favor abortion rights and are listed by &r; Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse as supporters of its comprehensive gun control proposals.
Ms. Thomas has been endorsed by the Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police, and teachers' organizations from the state and Howard and Prince George's counties.
Mr. Yeager has been endorsed by several leading environmental organizations.