Baker Appears Undaunted By Fundraising Disparity

By Ovetta Wiggins and Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, January 26, 2006

Former delegate Rushern L. Baker III has been compared to David, the little shepherd boy who went against the giant Goliath.

And since the campaign finance reports in his challenge to become county executive were made public this month, he has started to sound a little like "The Little Engine That Could."

"We're just getting started," Baker said of the filings that show County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) holding a huge advantage over Baker. The two will face off in the Democratic primary in September.

Johnson has nearly $1 million available in the bank. Baker, on the other hand, has about $75,000. Still, Baker says he's even more ready for the challenge. He notes that he has raised $94,000 since October and has more than 400 contributors. "People are willing to give against an incumbent who has high name recognition," he said.

Ivey's Friends Gather

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) on Monday hosted about 150 supporters at a reception to celebrate his three years as the county's top prosecutor.

Among the guests were Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan , who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, Montgomery County Council member Tom Perez (D-Silver Spring), former Prince George's County executive Wayne K. Curry (D), state Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt (D-Landover Hills) and Lise Van Susteren , a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. (Van Susteren is the sister of Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren ).

The event took place outside the state's attorney's office in a third-floor hallway of the Upper Marlboro courthouse.

During a brief talk, Ivey thanked supporters for giving him the opportunity to serve as state's attorney and spoke of viewing a documentary of the civil rights struggle with his young boys. He said his sons didn't realize how much had been sacrificed to secure black people the right to vote.

"We know people died for the right to vote," Ivey said. He urged the crowd to make sure that right is exercised in the upcoming fall elections, which, in addition to the state's attorney's race, include midterm contests for Congress and the offices of Maryland governor and county executive. "Let's do it locally, let's do it at the state level, let's do it nationally," Ivey said.

Two-Candidate Marriage

Speaking of the Iveys, Glenn's wife, Jolene , is planning to run for the House of Delegates.

Jolene Ivey had been pondering for weeks whether to become a candidate for delegate or take on Britt, who has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Duncan. The legislators for the 47th District -- Britt and Democratic delegates Victor R. Ramirez , Rosetta C. Parker and Doyle L. Niemann -- are all serving their first terms.

"I figured I don't have enough to do," Ivey said with a chuckle, later rattling off a list of activities that keep the former stay-at-home mom's days jampacked. "But the bottom line is, when you want to get something done, you ask a busy person."

Ivey, the mother of five young boys who works part time doing public relations for Community Teachers Institute, a think tank in the District, said that the county needs to "get back on track" and that these are not the times for "wussy politicians" to be in office.

She has never run for elected office before -- unless you count student office in high school. "You would have thought I was running for president, though," she said.

It looks as though she'll be pretty busy with her husband's reelection, her campaign and her effort to get Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) elected to the U.S. Senate. "I love Kweisi [ Mfume ], but he's not the right person to go against [Republican Lt. Gov.] Michael Steele ," she said. "We cannot let this state drift this far into the red."

Jackson Makes It Official

No surprises here: Sheriff Michael Jackson (D) is running for a second term.

Jackson made the announcement last week during a black-tie gala at Florian Hall in Bowie.

Several elected officials attended to wish Jackson well. Included in the crowd were Johnson, council Chairman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel), state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Forestville) and former Washington Redskin Brian Mitchell .

"This is all about giving back to the community I was born and raised in," Jackson said.

Staff writer Nick Anderson contributed to this report.