Schaefer Rebuked, But Only to a Point

By John Wagner
Friday, February 17, 2006

The two Democratic candidates for governor expressed dismay yesterday with Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D) for ogling a 24-year-old woman in a public meeting Wednesday, aides said.

Even so, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan has no plans to remove a picture featured prominently on his Web site that shows Duncan and Schaefer joining hands at an endorsement event, a campaign aide said.

Still, Duncan "believes the comments and behavior were inappropriate," spokesman David Weaver said.

Jonathan Epstein , campaign manager for Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley , said his boss was also troubled by the episode, in which Schaefer asked the woman, an aide to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), to "walk again" out of the room so he could watch.

"It was totally unacceptable behavior that no one should have to endure in the workplace," Epstein said.

Other leading Democrats also panned Schaefer's behavior yesterday, though some suggested they were not surprised.

"It was obviously a mistake, but the only people who would be shocked by the incident would be people who don't know William Donald Schaefer," said Senate President Thomas V . Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert). "He's an attention-getter, and sometimes he doesn't realize it offends people."

Asked if Schaefer is a candidate Democrats should be embracing, Miller said: "You have to consider the totality of the candidate. It's hard to overlook his record of achievement in the past."

Del. Peter Franchot (Montgomery), who is running against Schaefer for the comptroller's seat in the Democratic primary, said he does not plan to make the episode a campaign issue.

Schaefer, who scolded the press Wednesday for criticizing him, wasn't talking yesterday.

"We're done talking about it," spokesman Michael Golden said.

O'Malley Deflects Jabs on Crime Statistics

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial campaign, besieged by questions about the city's crime statistics, assured supporters in an e-mail yesterday that the crime numbers are "rock-solid" and accused his Democratic primary opponent of "trashing the city" with "baseless political attacks."

"For the next nine months, as we continue to run a positive, issues-based campaign aimed at bringing people together to move our state forward, you are going to see a lot of political potshots aimed in our direction," campaign manager Jonathan Epstein wrote. "You can rest assured that almost all of it will be unfounded and false."

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, who is also seeking the Democratic nod for governor, joined several lawmakers Wednesday calling for a statewide audit of crime statistics and expressing skepticism about O'Malley's claims of a significant reduction in violent crime.

Epstein said Duncan's questioning of crime statistics, "without a shred of evidence, attempts to impugn the integrity of the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department."

Duncan campaign manager Scott Arceneaux called Epstein's e-mail "a petulant and childish attempt to avoid important issues."

"This particular O'Malley squall is the latest sign of a candidate who regards himself as being above any questions about his record and simply attacks anyone who dares to try to have a real debate," he said.

Miller Awaits Debate on Stem Cell Research

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said yesterday that he is hopeful that floor debate could start as soon as next week on compromise legislation authorizing state spending on stem cell research.

A Senate bill would earmark $25 million a year for embryonic stem cell research, which scientists say holds great promise for Parkinson's disease, juvenile diabetes and other debilitating conditions. The research is controversial, however, because it involves the destruction of human embryos. Senate Republicans joined with a half-dozen Democrats last year to keep a bill off the floor by threatening a filibuster.

A compromise proposal would leave open the possibility that some of the money be spent on research using adult stem cells, which are derived from sources including bone marrow. The amount of money in the bill is likely to be reduced as well.

The goal, advocates say, is to persuade at least two senators to vote to cut off debate who were unwilling to do so last year.