Phillip F. Scheibe, a longtime political insider who has served as Anne Arundel's county attorney in three administrations, will resign tomorrow, sources said.

Scheibe, a close confidant of former County Executive John G. Gary, was viewed as an outsider in the new administration and was asked to leave office, several knowledgeable county officials said yesterday.

His resignation was supposed to be kept closely guarded, but Scheibe's failure to appear to defend the Office of Law's budget before the County Council yesterday signaled his impending departure to those who did not already know.

"I will have an announcement Friday," County Executive Janet S. Owens said, in response to questions about the attorney's unexpected absence.

Scheibe, 65, could not be reached for comment, but those close to him said he was not upset with the decision, and was "ready to leave."

Pub Date: 5/20/99