When Anne Arundel County had a conservative Republican as its county executive, business owners would explain their contributions to his campaign by saying they supported his pro-development philosophies.

But voters in November elected a moderate Democrat backed by unions and environmentalists. Some of the same business owners are now giving to the new executive, and a few no longer are claiming philosophical reasons.

Asked about their change of colors, some are candid: They write checks to buy access and influence policy.

Others say they give to both sides to avoid the "fate of De Francis."

Horse racing magnate Joseph A. De Francis donated at least $200,000 to Gov. Parris N. Glendening's opponent in November, only to see Ellen R. Sauerbrey lose and Glendening later push for legislation that might end De Francis' monopoly on racing in Maryland.

Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens says both motives for donating money are wrongheaded. She says she doesn't know or care who gives to her campaign and is open to meeting with developers who only wrote checks to her opponent, John G. Gary.

"I have tried to spend a lot of time meeting with the business community, because they were concerned that I was anti-growth, which I am not," Owens said. "I try to meet with absolutely everyone I can, even though this drives my staff crazy sometimes."

Veterans of Anne Arundel politics say the transition from Gary's Republican administration to Owens' Democratic one is a rare window through which one can watch a maxim of Maryland politics at work.

Political contributions are regarded as overhead for business owners, like the water bill or electrical service.

"There is an old expression: Get into politics or get out of business," said O. James Lighthizer, who was Arundel's Democratic county executive from 1982 to 1990 before becoming the state's secretary of transportation.

"Most companies that are regulated by government or do business with government tend to contribute to campaigns to gain the ear of the ultimate decision makers, who depend on contributions to win re-election," Lighthizer said.

The Owens campaign held a fund-raising cocktail party Nov. 20 at the south county farmhouse of Stuart Chaney, a cousin of Owens' campaign treasurer, William F. Chaney. About 320 people paid $200 each to attend.

One goal of the post-election event was to help pay off the roughly $50,000 that Owens' husband, attorney David M. Sheehan, lent to the campaign, said Sheehan, who also was his wife's campaign manager.

The reception was a success, bringing in about $52,000, not including the $8,000 cost of putting on the event, Sheehan said.

Kathleen Skullney, executive director of Common Cause Maryland, said that the donations' role in paying off the personal debt of the Owens family may have given business owners added hopes of winning influence with Owens.

Among the 320 people at the fund raiser were at least 16 people who had financially supported her opponent before the Nov. 3 election, according to campaign contribution records filed last month.

Some who gave to both sides were prickly when asked their motives.

Charles A. Dukes Jr., an Annapolis attorney who gave $4,000 to Gary and was one of his three biggest campaign contributors, wrote a $1,000 check to Owens that was recorded with her cocktail party proceeds on Dec. 7, according to campaign finance records.

"I don't see a need to comment on why I do what I do," Dukes snapped.

The McCrone Inc. construction engineering firm of Annapolis gave Gary $2,900 before the election. Then it gave $200 to Owens on the day of her campaign party -- the company's first donation to her, according to election records.

The company has performed several engineering projects for the county government over the years, including work on the expansion of the circuit court on Church Circle in Annapolis.

Gary Beach, president of the firm, said that the company did not give to the incumbents to try to win more county contracts.

"We supported John Gary so that we could have a relationship with him, to be part of the network of people who are involved in economic development in the county," Beech said.

Why did the company give to Owens?

"We want our opinions heard," said Beech. "We are looking for consideration when it comes to economic development policies. We understand that if we don't have economic development, we don't have jobs."

Charles N. Bassford, a Democrat from Davidsonville who owns a wholesale food supply business in Annapolis, gave to both sides throughout the election. He donated $1,000 to Gary and $1,200 to Owens before the election, gave Owens $1,000 the night of the cocktail party, according to campaign records.

Bassford said he was trying to avoid the kind of retribution De Francis may suffer.

"I think the political system is out of hand," Bassford said. "I don't think we should put huge sums of money put into political coffers, and then say after the election, 'Do you remember me?' It's frightening."

Homestead Gardens, a nursery and garden supply store in Davidsonville, gave $1,170 to Gary before the election and $200 to Owens at her cocktail party. The company's owner, Don Riddle, a Republican, said he wanted his voice heard by the new Democratic county executive.

Pub Date: 3/11/99