Democratic County Executive-elect James N. Robey was outspent by a 2-to-1 ratio in his race against Dennis R. Schrader, but raised about $20,000 more than his Republican rival in the final weeks of the campaign, according to campaign finance reports.

Robey, the former police chief who led the Democrats' strong electoral showing in Howard County, raised $120,580 as of Nov. 17, compared with Schrader's $256,470.

But in a sharp turnaround from earlier in the campaign, the Democrat brought in $38,800 between Oct. 19 and Nov. 11 -- nearly $20,000 more than his Republican opponent.

The eleventh-hour influx, nearly one-third of Robey's total, included more than $15,000 from developers, and allowed the Democrat to keep up with Schrader's spending pace at the most crucial point of the campaign.

Even after returning more than $19,000 in contributions from contractors who worked for his employer, University of Maryland Medical System, Schrader had enough money to buy television broadcast time in the Washington and Baltimore markets in the final weeks before Election Day.

No Howard County candidate had ever taken his campaign beyond the reach of local cable.

While Schrader poured $20,000 into such groundbreaking broadcast buys, Robey continued to gain financial ground: Campaign finance data show that the two candidates spent virtually the same amount, $54,000, from Oct. 19 to Nov. 11.

Schrader was forced to spend a substantial portion of his funds during a spirited campaign for the GOP nomination. Robey ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Pub Date: 11/25/98