Owens for Comptroller?

On paper, Montgomery Del. Peter Franchot leads the pack in fundraising in the comptroller's race, reporting that he has raised over $900,000 and still has over $900,000 available to spend. However, over $750,000 was in the form of a personal loan to his campaign, a far from minor detail omitted from Franchot's press releases. While Franchot now says this limits his indebtedness to special interests, his repeated pleas for money via email suggest to me that he welcomes the opportunity to spend other people's money instead of his own on his campaign. Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens and incumbent William Donald Schaefer have yet to release their reports.

Like many voters ready to retire incumbent Schaefer from public office (see this Gazette op-ed "Don't Ever Change Mr. Schaefer" for an alternative view), I am trying to decide between Owens and Franchot. I was leaning toward Franchot. He is from my home county and more progressive than Owens who has a reputation as a very conservative Democrat. I have also seen Franchot out on the campaign trail a few times and Owens decided to enter this race relatively late. However, I cannot help but wonder what Franchot would do with the public's money since he is willing to play a shell game with his own. Is Franchot really willing to spend the $750,000 loan to his campaign or is this merely a device to pump up his finance reports and make him look like a winner?

I would like to see Owens in person but one cannot help but admire her ability to win successive victories as a Democrat in a county that tilts Republican. Her experience as county executive gives her leadership and managerial experience which Franchot lacks. Owens may be tight with a dollar but that is hardly a sin in a comptroller. A victory by Owens would provide Maryland with its second woman elected to statewide office and its first in state office-- a nice counterpoint to those who think women should stay in the kitchen. In the Washington Post today, Owens indicates she can bake and manage the money. Maybe "It's Time" we give a woman the chance to do in the comptroller's office what so many do at home every day.