Maryland’s new county executives are quickly learning the joys of incumbency – when it comes to political fundraising.
Outraised significantly by their opponents in their come-from-behind victories last year, some of the newbies are finding money freely flowing their way, according to their latest campaign finance reports, released this week.
Take Howard County Executive Calvin Ball (D), an underdog against Republican incumbent Allan Kittleman in 2018. Between Nov. 14 and Jan. 9, he took in $170,970, spurred on by 71 donations of $1,000 or more – many of them from real estate interests and other business leaders. He reported $142,603 on hand as of Jan. 9.
The new county executives – and the holdovers – took office in early December, and the latest financial reporting period covered the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, when fundraising activity is presumably slow.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) had a small deficit in his campaign account immediately after Election Day, after defeating Republican incumbent Steve Schuh. But since mid-November, he raised $86,615, campaign records show, including 36 contributions of $1,000 or more. He finished the reporting period with $23,222.
Baltimore County Executive John A. “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. (D), who was outraised significantly by his two Democratic primary opponents before crushing State Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. (R) in November, has had no trouble collecting money since his election. He reported raising $109,180 in the two-month period and banked $75,886.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Josh Kurtz over at Maryland Matters