Thursday, January 24, 2002; Page HO03 

County Council member Allan H. Kittleman (R -- West County) thinks the county's Republicans are getting no respect.

After County Executive James N. Robey (D) delivered his State of the County address last week at the Columbia Sheraton, Mike Galeone, chairman of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, took the podium and urged members of the audience -- roughly 300 people -- to attend Robey's fundraiser the next day.

Galeone told them they could buy tickets to the event, which cost $100 each, in the hotel lobby.

All of that incensed Kittleman.

"Since when did the Howard County Chamber of Commerce become an arm of the Democratic Party?" he asked after the speech. "I was very upset. The chamber is supposed to be a nonpartisan group. You've got some of the most influential people out there in the audience, and he's up there saying, 'Come on out and support Jim Robey.' "

In an interview, Galeone said that the Chamber is indeed a nonpartisan group that doesn't endorse political candidates or contribute to their campaigns. He said he would have done the same for the Republicans if he'd known they were having an event.

"I disagree that it was an intentional endorsement," Galeone said. "When it comes to community leadership, I don't see an R or a D by their name. I just see leadership."

At the fundraiser last Thursday, Robey announced that he's running for a second term. Republican Steven H. Adler, managing partner of the Historic Savage Mill shopping complex, this week announced that he would challenge Robey.

Of the more than 500 fundraiser tickets sold, only a few were purchased at the State of the County speech, said Randall M. Griffin, president of Corporate Office Properties Trust, which hosted the event.

Kittleman, who, like Robey, is up for reelection in November, said he hopes that as many people come to his first fundraiser this spring.

He said the incident highlights a broader problem: "It basically goes with the old adage that business people take Republicans for granted. They think they have to work to get the Democrats, and then they forget about us. I'm getting a little tired of the Chamber taking us for granted."

Council member Christopher J. Merdon (Northeast County), the only other Republican on the council, was not nearly as upset. Galeone's comment, Merdon said, was "inappropriate," but he added: "I don't think he was intentionally trying to slight Republicans."

"He's a good guy," said Merdon, who showed up at Robey's fundraiser himself. "He would have done the same for us."