When Anne Arundel County Democrats gather this week to endorse Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in her bid to be the next governor of Maryland, one prominent party member doesn't plan to be there -- County Executive Janet S. Owens.
Owens' apparent decision to pass on the event, designed to allow the Democratic members of the county's General Assembly delegation to pledge their support to Townsend, has puzzled more than one of her allies.
"I never considered not going," said Del. Mary M. Rosso, a Democrat from Glen Burnie who plans to be at the endorsement rally, scheduled for noon Wednesday at The Crab Cake Factory in Annapolis. "For me it was a no-brainer. ... But it could be that Janet is going to wait for a moment that is riper for her."
Owens is a staunch Democrat whose solid relationship with Gov. Parris N. Glendening helped the county to secure money for school and road construction during the past four years. But she said through a spokesman that she's not inclined to issue endorsements until she has made her plans to seek re-election official. Anyway, she's no big fan of the process -- most Democrats endorsed her opponent in the 1998 primary.
But for many county Democrats, the Townsend endorsement is a natural. For the moment, she is considered the Democratic Party's best bet to keep control of the governor's office, and has won the support of such Democratic leaders as state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr., the state's two U.S. senators, Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes, and three Democratic congressmen from Maryland.
Two other executives
Howard County Executive James N. Robey and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan also have endorsed Townsend.
Politicians say that those who endorse -- and endorse early -- stand to be rewarded with money for such items as bicycle paths, community centers, school renovations and other pet projects.
"Oh, yes, people do keep track of endorsements," said state Sen. Philip C. Jimeno, a Brooklyn Park Democrat, who is signed up to attend the Townsend event. "That's human nature. Let's not kid ourselves on that."
Townsend spokesman Michael Morrill said the lieutenant governor was not "someone who punishes people" who don't endorse her. Still, he said, she appreciates endorsements for the buzz they create.
Said Morrill: "The lieutenant governor appreciates the endorsement of people who have worked with her and she remembers those who are supportive of her, but [endorsements] are not the goal of the campaign."
Baltimore attorney David M. Sheehan, Owens' husband and campaign manager, said he doubted that Townsend would hold it against Owens if she didn't attend the rally.
'A strong bond'
"They have a strong bond," he said. "I doubt Kathleen would do anything to harm Janet or Anne Arundel County."
Owens said recently that she was too busy putting together the 2003 budget to bother with political events. Although she has been raising money for an expected re-election bid, she hasn't formally revealed her plans.
"I think it is important for Janet, in her position, to first orchestrate her own announcement," Sheehan said. "Why not announce for re-election and then do it?"
Memories of the endorsements Owens didn't get in the 1998 election when she ran against Republican-turned-Democrat Diane R. Evans also could influence the county executive's thinking on whether she should endorse anyone in the gubernatorial primary, Sheehan said.
Evans, a two-term council member, shored up endorse- ments from Glendening on down the political ladder far ahead of the primary. Still, Owens, who held the relatively obscure position of orphans court judge, won the primary and went on to capture the general election.
"She has a very ingrained view that those sorts of endorsements don't really matter much with the voters," Sheehan said. "Her experience proves that when everyone from the Democratic Party supports and endorses your opponent in a primary, it doesn't mean anything. I don't think it's a good policy to endorse someone as long as there is a prospect for a challenger."
Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley has toyed with a run against Townsend in the September primary. His campaign has announced a move to larger offices and a new Web site.
O'Malley and Owens have worked together as members of the "Big Seven," government leaders from the state's seven largest jurisdictions, to improve public security after the terrorist attacks of September. They also serve on the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, which has played a key role in trying to bring the Olympic Games to the Baltimore-Washington area.
"I don't think it's a long shot to say that she could be waiting to see what O'Malley will do," said Jimeno.
Morrill said Owens was invited to the endorsement rally.
"There was a call to let her know what we were doing," he said last week. "We don't expect her."
State Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr., a Glen Burnie Democrat and head of the county's Senate delegation to the General Assembly, said he wouldn't miss the event.
"Everyone I know is going," DeGrange said. "If [Owens] isn't there, it will be noticed."