The more well-heeled candidates for Howard County General Assembly seats are taking their messages -- and in some cases, criticism of opponents -- to the airwaves as the primary campaign winds down, candidate finance reports show.
And in the only competition involving two state lawmakers, Del. Virginia M. Thomas, D-13A, is accusing incumbent Sen. Thomas M. Yeager, D-13, of running cable television advertisements she says distort her record on issues such as school construction, taxation and health care for the elderly.
"Frankly, it's low-ball politics," said Ms. Thomas, a 12-year Columbia delegate who is seeking the Senate seat Mr. Yeager has held since 1983. "I'm disappointed in him."
Mr. Yeager said the commercials "speak for themselves" and are based on Ms. Thomas' record, specifically her support of a 1992 tax increase package and a committee vote against a state dental care assistance program for the elderly.
Ms. Thomas responds that she has been recognized as a leader on issues involving aging, and she calls Mr. Yeager's commercial "bloody distortion."
Mr. Yeager counters that a mailing sent out by Ms. Thomas distorts his position on gun control.
That flier charges that Mr. Yeager, recognized as a gun control advocate, voted for an amendment some lawmakers said would have doomed a bill banning 18 types of semiautomatic pistols. The amendment, which was narrowly defeated, would have stiffened penalties for violent crimes committed with a handgun.
L "I thought it enhanced the bill," said Mr. Yeager of Fulton.
During the latest reporting period, which covers Aug. 10 to Aug. 28, Mr. Yeager spent $3,125 to produce the cable television ads geared toward the primary.
Ms. Thomas spent $14,159 on three fliers touting her record on environmental issues, anti-smoking legislation and gun control, contrasting her positions with Mr. Yeager's.
"That's why I'm spending money on literature," said Ms. Thomas, who represents a portion of Mr. Yeager's larger district. "I have to break my back to get better known on issues."
The 13th District includes east Columbia, Highland, Fulton, Guilford, Savage and the Laurel area. Del. Martin G. Madden, R-13B, who has no primary opposition, is awaiting the Democratic primary winner. His campaign showed a cash balance of $24,082, compared with $25,728 for Ms. Thomas and $4,968 for Mr. Yeager.
Gun control also has been a hot topic in the District 12 Democratic Senate primary, where former state Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer of Columbia has trumpeted his support of comprehensive gun control legislation to distinguish himself from the field, including incumbent Sen. Nancy L. Murphy of Catonsville.
Ms. Murphy, who has received $11,500 from political action committees since Aug. 10, got $4,000 from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.
Mr. Kasemeyer said the NRA contribution confirms his view that the election provides a referendum on gun control.
"It appears the NRA certainly is viewing it that way," he said. "I find it a little excessive for one contributor."
Mary Sue Faulkner, an NRA spokeswoman in Fairfax, Va., said the organization is supporting Ms. Murphy because she "strongly supports the right of self-defense against criminal attack" and has advocated criminal justice reform, truth in sentencing and victims' rights. "Our members want these reforms," Ms. Faulkner said.
Ms. Murphy continues to outdistance contenders from either party in fund-raising. She has raised $19,681 since Aug. 10 -- more than six times more than any challenger -- and $231,244 overall, including her abortive bid for Baltimore County executive.
Ms. Murphy also received $2,000 from a Baltimore County firefighters committee, $400 from the Tobacco Institute and $1,000 each from Maryland Realtors PAC, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association PAC and 27th District Legislators, the Prince George's County district from which Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. hails.
Ms. Murphy spent $16,350 during the period, including $6,830 on media advertising. The next-highest spender, Democrat Thomas Booth of Catonsville, spent $7,692 overall, including $5,658 on advertising.
Republican David Maier of Elkridge has raised $22,073 overall, including $5,109 in in-kind contributions from himself and his restoration business. His opponent, Christopher Eric Bouchat of Elkridge, has raised $6,077, including $4,150 in personal loans.
District 12 includes most of west Columbia, Rockburn, Elkridge and southwestern Baltimore County.
In the crowded Democratic primary for delegate in two-member District 13A, the two candidates with the largest cash balances -- County Councilwoman Shane Pendergrass and Frank S. Turner -- also are using cable television advertising and other media more than opponents.
Ms. Pendergrass has spent more than $4,000 on media and $10,515 total, and Mr. Turner more than $3,000 on media and $6,261 overall since Aug. 10. By comparison, Robert Ardinger showed no expenditures and Wanda Hurt showed expenditures of $127 during the same period. Pearl Atkinson-Stewart, who also is advertising on cable, spent $2,354, including $595 on media. James Fitzgerald submitted a waiver
pledging that he wouldn't raise more than $300.
Though Ms. Hurt has raised $22,087 overall -- second to Ms. Pendergrass' $51,880 and about $1,000 more than Mr. Turner -- she spent nearly all of it before Aug. 10.
Ms. Pendergrass received a $100 contribution in August -- and $200 in aggregate -- from Browning-Ferris Industries, a national waste-management company. The councilwoman supported a unanimous zoning decision in July that will allow BFI to operate a waste transfer station in Elkridge, saying the issue was too important for an abstention.
District 13A includes east Columbia and most of southeastern Howard, excluding the Laurel area.
On the Republican side, Michael Grasso has raised $6,606 overall, while Charles H. Fiege Jr. has done no fund-raising. Kenneth Miller has not submitted finance reports.
In the Democratic primary for delegate in District 12B, Ethel Hill has spent more than $3,000 on cable advertising since Aug. 10 in an effort to increase her exposure in a race that includes features former County Executive Elizabeth Bobo.
Ms. Bobo spent $4,800 on a direct mailing in the latest period but shows no expenses for media.
Rosemary Mortimer has raised $46,897 overall, more than either Ms. Hill or Ms. Bobo, who carried over about $30,000 from her county executive treasury. Ms. Mortimer, who spent $3,478 on direct mail and $47 on media since Aug. 10, has lent her campaign $31,000.
Ms. Mortimer has a balance of $1,190, Ms. Hill $12,789 and Ms. Bobo $16,113. Ms. Hill has raised $31,947 overall, Ms. Bobo $44,286.
Republican Charles Scott, who has no District 12B opposition, has raised $4,709 overall. The district stretches from west Columbia, along Route 103 and into Elkridge.
In the Senate District 14 Democratic primary, Michael Dupuy of Silver Spring has raised $5,535 and spent $4,839 since Aug. 10, while James P. Mundy of Ellicott City has raised $1,421 and spent $931. But Mr. Mundy has been more prolific overall, raising $36,857 and spending $13,943, compared with $12,504 and $11,751, respectively, for Mr. Dupuy. Mr. Mundy has a cash balance of $21,982, Mr. Dupuy $753.
Mr. Mundy has contended that he is focusing his campaign on incumbent Republican Sen. Christopher J. McCabe of Ellicott City, a favorite in his primary against Anne R. Ward of Columbia. Mr. McCabe has raised $66,019 since 1990 and has a cash balance of $18,277. Ms. Ward filed a waiver pledging she would not spend more than $300.
BTC District 14 includes Ellicott City, a small portion of west Columbia, western Howard and northeastern Montgomery County.