2006 Maryland Comptroller Election
Janet Owens announced her plans to seek the office of Maryland State Comptroller on May 4, 2006. This was done after months of rumors that she would seek the Democratic nomination for the third congressional district of Maryland (the seat vacated by Ben Cardin, who ran successfully for U.S. Senate to succeed Paul Sarbanes), as well as rumors that she was under consideration as a potential running mate for Governor Robert Ehrlich, a Republican, during his campaign for re-election. (Ehrlich's lieutenant governor, Michael S. Steele, ran unsuccessfully for Senate rather than for a second term as lieutenant governor. Ehrlich ended up choosing Kristen Cox as his new running mate; the ticket was defeated by Democratic Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Anthony Brown.) Term limits prevented her from seeking another term as county executive. Owens competed with controversial Democratic incumbent comptroller William Donald Schaefer for the party's nomination. In early July 2006, when asked if he would debate Owens, Schaefer said he "wouldn't debate her on how to bake a chocolate cake." In the primary election on September 12, 2006, Owens garnered more votes than Schaefer, but Peter Franchot received the most votes, earning the Democratic party's nomination for Comptroller. Franchot went on the win the general election on November 7, 2006.
John R. Leopold (Republican) succeeded her as County Executive after winning the general election on November 7, 2006.
Read more about this topic: Janet S. Owens
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