Democrat James N. Robey and Republican Dennis R. Schrader have been raising money for their Howard County executive battle from the people each knows best, two starkly different groups for whom the winner can wield tremendous influence.

Robey, the less well-financed of the candidates with almost $82,000, has raised about a third of his money from at least 136 county employees, their close relatives and public safety unions that could benefit from a victory by the former police chief, according to a review of campaign contributions through Oct. 18.

Schrader has raised more than $100,000 of his $238,000 -- more than 40 percent -- from businesses that have a keen interest in who runs Howard County: developers and firms that have bid on county contracts.

Observers of money and politics wonder whether such fund raising could influence the independence of the candidate elected to the county's most powerful post. At the least, the two candidates' divergent bases of support offer insights into where each campaign has struck a chord and how each candidate might govern.

Schrader, who has built his campaign in large part on encouraging commercial growth, has received more than $90,000 from commercial and residential development businesses, a broad category that includes homebuilders, road builders, architects, engineers and development consultants.

Nearly $50,000 of that development money, plus almost $10,000 in other contributions, came from donors representing at least 67 companies that are on the county's list of potential bidders for purchases and contracts. Twenty-six of those companies have been awarded more than $20 million in contracts since Jan. 1, 1995, according to county purchasing records.

$19,000 returned

That amounts to $100,000 in contributions from companies that could do business with a Schrader administration -- without double-counting contributions from development-related businesses that are also potential bidders. Of that total, Schrader has returned $19,000 to firms with which he has done business as an executive approving construction and renovation contracts at the University of Maryland Medical System.

The contributions he has kept include:

$6,596 in cash and in-kind contributions from Savage Mill and its principals, who have received financial help from the county and will need approval for a planned business expansion.

$6,500 from entities controlled by Joseph and Jack Nazario, brothers who own two Beltsville paving businesses that have received two Howard County contracts totaling $88,500 since 1995.

$6,590 from Frederick W. Maier and his entities. Maier, of Burtonsville, has an industrial park on U.S. 1 in Howard County and says he is preparing to build more warehouses. He contributed at the request of a couple of members of Schrader's finance committee, including an architect on his warehouse projects, George Vaeth Jr., whose $3,425 in contributions were returned because he has done work for the medical system.

"I'm supporting him because, like I say, I don't live there, but I am building in Howard County," Maier said. He said he wants to be able to build what he wants on his property, and Schrader is pro-business. "He's not stopping me, not trying to stop me. He's encouraging me."

Many of Schrader's business donors say they support the Republican because he talks convincingly about making Howard County more friendly to businesses. They often add that they are not concerned with whether the county becomes more friendly with their own businesses.

"My support for Dennis Schrader is not for personal business interest at all, I'd like to make that clear," said Joseph Nazario, owner of Nazario Construction Co., a paving and concrete ready-mix business.

Nazario has given to many political campaigns over the years. Asked why, as a Prince George's County resident, he is interested in the Howard County executive's race, he said, "I might live there someday."

Minority businesses

Nazario is also one of many minority business owners who have contributed to Schrader, who has promised that as executive he would reach out more to minority contractors. Though Nazario says he usually doesn't use his minority status in applying for contracts, several other donors are interested in this campaign promise.

"Minority businesses have gotten a raw deal in Howard County," says Walter Morgan, owner of Morgan Management Systems, an information technology business in Columbia. Morgan has helped organize a group of nearly 20 black business leaders and prominent local African-Americans that is throwing support behind Schrader in hopes the county will begin awarding 10 percent or more of its contracts to minority-owned firms.

"We have a sufficient number of businesses in this community who qualify to take advantage of that [minority contracting] program once it becomes a priority," Morgan said.

Schrader said his experience as a vice president at the medical system helps bring contributions from all businesses. "You've got a difference between a proven executive in a private sector business leadership role vs. a government department head who has no executive leadership experience, and the business community recognizes that," he said.

Robey says his 32 years of public service have earned him the goodwill of county employees. He has built his candidacy around them.

After stepping down as police chief in January, he assembled a campaign staff and volunteer network made up largely of current and former employees. He has talked about improving the lot of county employees, with salary increases for police officers and possible pension increases for officers and firefighters.

In response, many employees have been generous with their time and money, though the campaign insists no money has been raised on county time.

Nearly 60 employees have given $100 or more to Robey's campaign, either by themselves or through their spouses. They include Fire Chief James Heller, Police Chief Wayne Livesay and at least 75 other police and fire employees. Three public safety employees, including the fire chief's top deputy, Edgar Shilling Jr., have contributed more than $1,000 each.

County employees and their relatives have donated at least $19,799 to Robey's campaign. Police and fire unions have contributed $7,120, for a total of almost $27,000.

Selfish economics

Schrader has seized on Robey's strong employee support, questioning whether Robey has promised too much to the unions and the rank and file. Robey says he didn't promise the unions anything specific for their support, but he and his aides acknowledge his candidacy is appealing to employees partly because of selfish economics.

"I think they know they have a better chance of getting the benefits and salary that they need and the support that they need to do their job if Jim Robey wins," says Herman Charity, a former police lieutenant who is Robey's campaign manager.

Robey says that, unlike his opponent, he recognizes that the police force will have trouble recruiting and keeping qualified officers when other jurisdictions can offer better pay and benefits.

The Democrat also says much of his support comes from employees who are worried about the prospect of a Schrader administration. Schrader has said changes are likely if he is elected. Those changes might include ousting two or three department heads, and rumors abound among employees about how rocky a Schrader transition would be.

"He's certainly showed no empathy or respect for county employees," Robey said.

Police Maj. Mark Paterni, who has given $150 to Robey, agreed that's one reason why some employees are backing Robey.

"Some people are concerned that their services are not valued, that they're looked upon as second-class citizens," Paterni said. "I just have a feeling without any doubt that Robey has a better appreciation for the people that are in government providing services."

A pal of workers

TC Schrader counters that Robey is too close to the employees. The first-term county councilman and his advisers have described Robey as a "back-slapping," "beer-drinking" pal of employees. Schrader says he would have a "professional" relationship with employees, and he talks of the need for a manager to keep employees at arm's length.

Public interest advocates say the close involvement of employees in Robey's campaign can raise questions about whether Robey, if elected, would be an objective manager.

"If the elected official is raising a lot of money from public employees and is indebted to those public employees once he comes into office, will he be in a position to make difficult management decisions that affect those employees?" asks Paul Hendrie, spokesman for the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Schrader says for that reason, he has mostly kept employees out of his campaign. "I have no department heads [in my campaign]. I don't want them because it's a conflict of interest," Schrader said. "It makes it more difficult to be objective. I don't want the employees deeply involved in this thing, but on the other hand, [Robey] has the right to raise money any way he wants."

Hendrie says the contributions Schrader has received could make voters wonder whether he would be objective when making policy decisions on development and contracting. "A lot of these problems have to do with appearances," Hendrie said.

Pub Date: 10/25/98