Howard County's teachers association is urging support for four Democrats seeking county offices in this year's elections, but Republicans and some Democrats are crying foul over how the union made its choices.
"I wasn't sent the questionnaire. I wasn't interviewed. They told me they weren't going to do endorsements," said an angry Michelle Williams, a Democrat long active in county school issues who is running for County Council in east Columbia's District 2 primary.
Calvin Ball and David Rakes, her primary opponents, were interviewed.
Association President Joe Staub said the group sent a questionnaire to the address on Williams' election board filing. He denied telling her that there would be no union endorsement.
Republicans claim - and Staub confirmed - that the union did not interview any GOP candidates. That provoked accusations that the group is a tool of the Democratic Party.
"Their process is laughable," said County Councilman Christopher J. Merdon, an Ellicott City Republican. "The fact that they didn't interview any Republican candidates undermines any credibility. It's crazy."
The teachers did not endorse anyone in Merdon's District 1 race.
The association endorsed incumbent County Executive James N. Robey and County Councilman Guy J. Guzzone, a North Laurel-Savage Democrat who has no primary opposition.
The group chose Rakes for the District 2 seat, and Kenneth S. Ulman in District 4, which covers west Columbia. No endorsement was offered for District 5, covering the western county, which is represented by an unopposed Allan H. Kittleman, a Republican.
Courtney Watson, the only school board candidate, also was endorsed.
Staub, whose union represents 5,300 school system workers, said its 120-member representative assembly voted on endorsements now to have an impact on the primary election, though the filing deadline for candidates is not until July 8.
"We hope all the serious candidates are in," he said, explaining that the assembly does not meet during the summer.
The group picked Robey without interviewing him or Steven H. Adler, the Republican candidate, because of the Democrat's record of supporting education with heavy infusions of cash during his first term, Staub said.
He rejected Republican charges that the association is a captive of the Democrats, saying: "We have a record of supporting candidates from both parties. In the past, we supported [former state Sen.] Marty Madden," a Republican.
Robey was happy to receive the vote of confidence, while Adler discounted it, claiming that the union does not necessarily represent the views of many teachers.
Staub said the endorsement means contributions, election day poll workers handing out apple-shaped union ballots, and possible phone bank help during the campaign.
The association endorsed Guzzone, who has no opposition so far in the Sept. 10 primary, but did not interview Diane B. Wilson or Kirk J. Halpin, Republicans fighting for the chance to oppose Guzzone in November.
"It's outrageous," Wilson said. "If they don't want to give me the endorsement, that's one thing. But at least if they gave me the opportunity it would give the impression they were trying to be impartial."
In District 4, Ulman was happy at being chosen, while fellow Democrat Mary Kay Sigaty, who has worked on education issues for years, was shocked.
"I'm just very excited to be honored by the teachers.," Ulman said. "It helps me tremendously."
Staub contributed $100 to Ulman's campaign in October, state campaign records show.
Joan Lancos, former Planning Board chairwoman who is running as a Republican for the District 4 seat, said she was not only upset about the group not contacting her, but said she could not imagine why it passed over Sigaty, given her long record of involvement in education.
"It really makes me question the value of any endorsement they may give out," Lancos said.
In the end, that value translates into how many votes it produces on election day. Former two-term County Executive Charles I. Ecker, a Republican, offered his perspective on that.
"They did not endorse me in 1990, and in 1994 they stayed neutral," he said. "If history is any indication, it hasn't been very effective."