Janet S. Owens
Encyclopedia
Janet S. Owens is an American
politician and Democrat who served as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
, for two terms, from 1998 until 2007. She is a resident of Millersville, Maryland
. She was the first female county executive of Anne Arundel County. As County Executive, she was seen as a moderate, frequently implementing more conservative policies than the County Council, which is now led by Republicans. After conducting polling regarding her chances of being re-elected to her former position of County Executive, Owens decided against running for the Democratic nomination in June 2010.
Prior to serving as County Executive, Owens was the Executive Director of Anne Arundel County Housing Authority from 1984 to 1986 and later as the Director of the Department of Aging for Anne Arundel County from 1986 to 1990. She then served as a Judge of the Orphans Court from 1990 to 1994. She ran for county Clerk of the Court in 1994 but was defeated by Bob Duckworth
.
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 [losing to Cardin] 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and Democrat who served as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, for two terms, from 1998 until 2007. She is a resident of Millersville, Maryland
Millersville, Maryland
Millersville is an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States.-Geography:Millersville is located at .-History:...
. She was the first female county executive of Anne Arundel County. As County Executive, she was seen as a moderate, frequently implementing more conservative policies than the County Council, which is now led by Republicans. After conducting polling regarding her chances of being re-elected to her former position of County Executive, Owens decided against running for the Democratic nomination in June 2010.
Prior to serving as County Executive, Owens was the Executive Director of Anne Arundel County Housing Authority from 1984 to 1986 and later as the Director of the Department of Aging for Anne Arundel County from 1986 to 1990. She then served as a Judge of the Orphans Court from 1990 to 1994. She ran for county Clerk of the Court in 1994 but was defeated by Bob Duckworth
Bob Duckworth
Robert P. Duckworth is a prominent Maryland Republican politician who has resided in Crofton, Maryland since 1968...
.
Election results
- 2006 Democratic Primary Election for Maryland State Comptroller
-
- Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Peter Franchot Peter FranchotPeter V. R. Franchot assumed office as the Comptroller of Maryland in January 2007. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 20th legislative district in Montgomery County, Maryland from 1987 to 2007.-Education and family:Franchot was born in New Haven,...215,192 36.5% Won Janet S. Owens 200,292 34.0% Lost William Donald Schaefer William Donald SchaeferWilliam Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...174,071 29.5% Lost
- Voters to choose one:
- 2002 Race for Anne Arundel County Executive
-
- Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Janet S. Owens, Dem. 89,456 51.8% Won Phillip Bissett, Rep. 83,305 48.2% Lost
- Voters to choose one:
- 1998 Race for Anne Arundel County Executive
Name Votes Percent Outcome Janet S. Owens, Dem. 87,676 57.8% Won John G. Gary John G. GaryJohn G. Gary is an American politician and a Republican who served as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, from 1994-1998....
, Rep.63,879 42.1% Lost Other Write-In's 226 0.1% Lost
2006 Maryland Comptroller election
Janet Owens announced her plans to seek the office of Maryland State ComptrollerComptroller of Maryland
The Comptroller of Maryland, United States, currently Peter Franchot, is the state's chief financial officer and is also elected by the people for a four year term. The comptroller is not term-limited. The office was established by the Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern about the...
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
Ben Cardin
Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
, who ran successfully for U.S. Senate to succeed Paul Sarbanes
Paul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
), as well as rumors that she was under consideration as a potential running mate for Governor Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
, a Republican, during his campaign for re-election. (Ehrlich's lieutenant governor, Michael S. Steele
Michael S. Steele
Michael Stephen Steele is an American politician who served as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011. From 2003 to 2007, he was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the first African American elected to statewide...
, ran unsuccessfully for Senate [losing to Cardin] rather than for a second term as lieutenant governor. Ehrlich ended up choosing Kristen Cox
Kristen Cox
Kristen Cox is a blind American politician and current Executive Director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Previously Cox served as Maryland Secretary of Disabilities. Kris Cox was the running mate of Maryland Governor Robert L...
as his new running mate; the ticket was defeated by Democratic Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
Mayor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
and Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown is an American jazz percussionist, drummer, composer, and bandleader, and ethnomusicologist. He is the son of a Choctaw and African American father and a Japanese mother. Long associated with the Asian American jazz movement, he specializes in the juxtaposition of American and Asian...
.) Term limits prevented her from seeking another term as county executive. Owens competed with controversial Democratic incumbent comptroller William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...
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
Peter Franchot
Peter V. R. Franchot assumed office as the Comptroller of Maryland in January 2007. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 20th legislative district in Montgomery County, Maryland from 1987 to 2007.-Education and family:Franchot was born in New Haven,...
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
John R. Leopold
John Robinson Leopold is an American Republican politician and was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. In 2006, he was elected Anne Arundel County Executive.-Biography:...
(Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) succeeded her as County Executive after winning the general election on November 7, 2006.