George W. Owings III ended months of speculation Monday by announcing he is ready to challenge Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley [D] in the 2010 Democratic Primary.
The former state delegate and secretary of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs told the Calvert Independent, Monday, Jan. 4 that he has marked differences with O’Malley on issues and the way he (O’Malley) conducts business. Owings indicated this will be a campaign about those differences, free of spin and mudslinging.
“The easiest thing any challenger can do is throw bombs at the incumbent, attack their record,” said Owings. “The good news in this campaign is that I also have a record, a 17-year record in the legislature and a three-year record as a cabinet secretary. So, if you want to compare apples to apples, it’s going to be very easy to do.”
The lifelong Calvert County resident who currently resides in Dunkirk stated, “I find the current governor is a reactionary individual more than he is an action individual.”
He cited several issues, including the death penalty and economic development, as ones where he differs from O’Malley.
Owings described O’Malley’s plan for legalized slot machines as “a mess. The theory was they were going to put slots at racetracks. But once the referendum passed, the bait and switch began.”
The former lawmaker also criticized O’Malley for his handling of the Constellation Energy Group (CEG) -Electricite de France merger. “He involved himself personally,” said Owings, who accused the governor and the Maryland Public Service Commission of targeting CEG subsidiary Baltimore Gas and Electric “with a vengeance.” The move, said Owings, could have meant the end of the planned third reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby.
“Had they continued down the path they were going, this county would have lost 4,000 construction jobs, 400 permanent jobs, $129 million of immediate infusion in cash because of the sale, and another $120 million in donation to the Constellation Energy Group Foundation,” said Owings.
The end result of O’Malley’s scrutiny of BGE resulted in a small monetary concession for the utility’s ratepayers, said Owings, who added Maryland residents serviced by other electricity companies received no benefits at all.
Owings indicated he has picked a running mate but said he would not divulge the name until later in the week. His choice for lieutenant governor, said Owings, “will geographically balance the ticket.”
Despite his conservative leanings on a variety of issues, Owings said he gave absolutely no thought to switching to the Republican Party in order to challenge O’Malley.
“I’m a Louis Goldstein, George Owings Jr. kind of Democrat,” he said. “I registered as a Democrat in 1968 right after I got out of the Marine Corps. I registered as a Democrat because I believe that the Democratic Party, when the veneer is pulled back and the smoke is blown away, is still the party of the working family, for the people. I’ve always believed that.”
Despite his loyalty to the Democratic Party, Owings admitted, “I don’t put party in front of principle. I have often taken on leadership over issues. Core values that I have maintained are not going to be compromised.”
Owings promised a campaign with no promises. “I’m not going to promise anybody anything,” said Owings. “I can’t reduce your electric rates. But, I can go into the budget and find lots of places where we can still affect some savings.”
E-mail Marty Madden at editorial@calvertindependent.com.
The Calvert Independent
