Anne Arundel County Executive Plans to Challenge Schaefer

Janet S. Owens considered but ruled out running for Congress. (Craig Herndon)

"I've been practicing law in and around Maryland for 20 years," Perez said.

"I welcome the debate about who's qualified and who's not," he added.

In the comptroller's race, Franchot released a statement calling Owens "pro-development, pro-slots and pro-Ehrlich."

"Like Schaefer," Franchot said, "she would be the crucial second vote for Bob Ehrlich on the Board of Public Works."

Asked about Owens's candidacy, Schaefer's spokesman, Mike Golden, said the comptroller "wished her well" but did not intend to change his plan to seek a third term.

Owens is nearing the end of her second term leading Anne Arundel, a fast-growing county that has increasingly become a bedroom community to Baltimore and Washington.

For several months, Owens considered a run for Congress, even buying a house in the 3rd Congressional District. But she said in an interview yesterday that she finally concluded that heading to Washington did not suit her.

"Bottom line, I'm not a legislator," she said. "I don't have that way of thinking."

Thomas F. Schaller, a University of Maryland political science professor, said he believes Owens's entry into the race will "split the anti-Schaefer vote" and "virtually guarantees" that Schaefer will win.

Owens disagreed. "I just think that's not accurate," she said.