A Different Vision

Kristen Cox May Be Blind, but Bob Ehrlich's Running Mate Knows Just Where She's Going

Kristen Cox, Republican candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor, chats with nurse Cheryl Branch, left, at the Keswick multi-care center in Baltimore. (By Lois Raimondo -- The Washington Post)

Kristen Cox steps from the back seat of the black GMC Yukon and stands in the parking lot for a moment to get her bearings. An aide warns, "Curb," and then begins to brief her as they enter the building.

In the community room of the Rosemount Towers in Baltimore, 25 or so elderly women are gathered over Dunkin' Donuts and coffee. Cox clicks in her black sling-back heels to the center of the room and launches into the same speech she gave earlier in the day at another subsidized housing complex. She tells them she is the running mate of Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich and she wants to hear what's on their minds.

"Don't raise your hand, 'cause I'm blind," Cox says to the women in their wheelchairs, with their swollen ankles and stooped shoulders. "Speak out, speak out!" she urges.

So they do: Drugs, prostitution, violence. A resident was assaulted here a few years ago. Though Rosemount began as predominantly senior citizens housing 22 years ago, young people have moved in.

Cox nods sympathetically and cues up the empowerment segment.

"If you have a disability, if you're poor, if you're a senior, people kind of write you off," she says. "I live it. I'm running for lieutenant governor and people say. 'What's she doing? She can't be doing that, she's blind.' "

But the women in the audience are not getting the message.

"We've had people come here before," says one, "and so many times they've stalled on the problem."

"Nothing ever gets done about what we want," says another. "The public address boxes do not work in this building and nobody's doing anything about it. It's like we are kicked to the curb."

Cox tells them that it's the city they need to talk to, not the state. She even recommends they call the mayor's office. What she doesn't mention is that Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, is challenging them in the election.

"I would hold your city government accountable," she says. "I'd be the thorn in someone's side. Unfortunately, that's what it takes sometimes. Part of it is being persistent. Part of it is being a pain in the neck if you have to."

Later, Cox considers what she has heard.