Anne Arundel County Council Democrats struggled to retain their 5-1 majority in the face of high Republican turnout fueled by Maryland's neck-and-neck race for governor.

Several incumbent Democrats were considered vulnerable going into the election.

Shirley Murphy, a former catering manager, fought to hang on to her seat in the face of a challenge from Republican Ron Dillon Jr., an accountant, in Pasadena's District 3. Dillon had an early lead of 52.4 percent with about a third of the precincts reporting.

Daniel E. Klosterman Jr., an accountant, was in a tough fight against former Republican state Sen. Edward Middlebrooks in Glen Burnie's District 2.

Council Chairman Bill D. Burlison appeared to be winning in his bid to keep his seat representing West County's District 4 in the face of a challenge from local attorney Michael Malone.

High turnout for GOP gubernatorial candidate Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. fueled the competition. Several voters said they voted straight Republican, though they knew little about the council candidates.

At the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Department, Mark and Barbara Miara said they were thinking it was time for a change, statewide and locally. Both Ehrlich supporters, they also voted for Dillon.

"I don't feel we've seen a lot coming from Shirley Murphy over the last four years," said Mark Miara, a stay-at-home father. "I think someone else needs a chance."

Similarly, Ehrlich supporters Jeffrey and Kathleen Jauschnegg chose Malone over Burlison. The Severn residents, who voted at Odenton Elementary School with their two children in tow, said they wanted Republicans to have a chance to control the council.

"I wasn't happy about them giving themselves a big raise, especially when teachers and police and firefighters got such small ones," said Kathleen Jauschnegg, a Prince George's County teacher, referring to the 26 percent pay increase that the council voted itself last winter.

But Burlison's industrious campaigning seemed to persuade other voters to keep him in office. The 72-year-old former Missouri congressman, who knocks on the door of every registered voter and remembers names of constituents' pets, impressed Department of Defense manager Linda Proctor during a recent campaign sweep.

"He came to my door and talked to me," said Proctor, who lives in Severn. "I felt at ease, and I felt what he said was genuine, that he would continue to make a difference."

In District 1, incumbent Pamela G. Beidle was expected to prevail over limousine company operator Bob Gouge. Early results showed Republican Cathleen M. Vitale, the incumbent, with a commanding lead over construction manager George Maloney in Severna Park's District 5. Barbara Samorajczyk faced only token opposition from write-in candidate Regina Eyler Linton in District 6, which includes Annapolis.

District 7 - including Crofton and South County - was up for grabs, with no incumbent. Early returns showed Republican Edward R. Reilly with a lead over Democrat William A. Rinehart.