Calling her loss in the November election an organized effort to defraud her of office, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ellen R. Sauerbrey said last night that she is a "stubborn and tenacious woman" who will continue to fight to overturn the election.
"I know the odds of overturning an election are stacked against us, but we believe wrong was done," Mrs. Sauerbrey told more than 100 members of the Northern Baltimore County Republican and Civic Organization at the Parkton American Legion Hall.
Mrs. Sauerbrey insisted that she will get an injunction to prevent Democrat Parris N. Glendening from taking office Jan. 18 if the court has not made a determination on her lawsuit. Although her lawyers refused yesterday to blame Mr. Glendening or the city election board for the alleged voting irregularities, Mrs. Sauerbrey contends she lost the Nov. 8 election because of organized fraud.
"My response is I'm trying to fix the problem, not to blame, but I do believe this was an organized effort," she said. "Maybe you ought to talk to some of the city Democrats. They're saying this is not an uncommon thing that happens in Democratic primaries."
Mrs. Sauerbrey was sharply critical of election procedures, particularly in Montgomery and Prince George's counties and in Baltimore, areas where she lost heavily.
"I think we may learn that there was tampering with the machines," she said. "At the least, the safeguards that should have been in there were not in place."
She stressed that the election challenge is draining her cash and asked for volunteer help.
"We need you all day and all night," she said. "We also need money."