By Bryan P. Sears
bsears@patuxent.com
The campaign cash keeps rolling and the intentions of some elected officials are becoming a little clearer.

Figures released last month, provide a glimpse into the possible political futures of those who hope to succeed County Executive Jim Smith in 2010.

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz has managed to enlarge his bankroll despite an agreement among councilmen to not raise money during the county’s quadrennial rezoning process that ended in September.

The Democrat raised more than $145,000 in the last three months of 2008 and finished the year with more than $727,000 in his campaign finance account.

Kamenetz, who represents the 2nd District, including Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton, said supporters are encouraging him to run for county executive.

“People want strong leadership for the county,” he said.

“I think people recognize I’ve done a good job as a councilman in terms of maintaining our tax rate and spending money wisely” he said.

Kamenetz acknowledged that his campaign account is larger than would be needed for a council re-election contest but continued to be coy about the county executive race. He would only say he is keeping his options open.

Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder, the only councilman to have declared his intent to run for county executive, raised almost $70,000 and finished the year with nearly $402,000.

Bartenfelder said he is not discouraged by Kamenetz’s growing lead.

“My idea was never to try to match anyone dollar for dollar,” said Bartenfelder, a Democrat who represents the 6th District, including Middle River, Fullerton and Parkville. “I’m going to raise $1 million for the campaign. That’s what’s needed and that’s what we’ll do.”

John Olszewski Sr., a Democrat who represents the Dundalk and Essex areas, reported $987 in income to the campaign account. The income came from two refunds for overpayments and two court-ordered restitution payments from a former campaign treasurer who was convicted of stealing from Olszewski’s campaign account.

Olszewski said the lack of fundraising last year doesn’t dash his hopes of running for executive in 2010.

“There’s still plenty of time to raise money,” Olszewski said.

All three councilmen had more cash on hand than two other possible county executive contenders — Democratic Sen. Jim Brochin and Republican Del. Pat McDonough.

Brochin, who represents Towson, Timonium and part of Pikesville, raised nearly $92,000 in 2008 while spending almost $37,000.

He reported having more than $87,000 in cash on hand to end the reporting period.

McDonough, who represents Cockeysville, Middle River and part of Perry Hall,  has yet to file his annual report for the year.

He had slightly more than $7,200 in cash on hand according to the report he filed in January 2008.

Councilman Sam Moxley, a Democrat who represents Arbutus, Baltimore Highlands, Catonsville, Halethorpe, Lansdowne and Relay, said he gave some thought to running for the position himself, but decided against it.

“I thought about it, but the issue is money,” Moxley said.  “It can become a full-time job just to raise the money for the election, so for that reason I’ve decided that I’m not going for (the county executive seat.”

Moxley said he will instead focus on being re-elected to his council seat and continuing his work there.

Moxley said his fellow council members share a similar perspective,

“The people on the council have some great experience, not only as far as county government is concerned, but also as far as county families are concerned,” he said.
“You’ve got three individuals that are serving in this position (as a council member) also raising families, and they realize the requirements for working class families in the county.

“I think they’ve got great experience.”

Bryan P. Sears is political editor for Patuxent Publishing Co.’s Baltimore County newspapers.

Kevin Rector contributed to this story.

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