Republican Trent Kittleman mulls run for Howard executive

By Larry Carson

Baltimore Sun reporter; October 26, 2009

Trent Kittleman, a former Ehrlich administration transportation official and member of a prominent Howard County Republican political family, said she's seriously considering running for county executive next year.

Kittleman, 64, of West Friendship, is a lawyer and former congressional staffer who served as both deputy transportation secretary under Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr, a Republican, and later as president and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Authority, leaving office after Ehrlich's 2006 defeat.

She is also the widow of the late State Sen. Robert H. Kittleman, and stepmother to State Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, the senate minority leader.

"I'm forming an exploratory committee to see if I can raise an adequate amount of money," she said. She'll likely make a final decision early next year.

County executive Ken Ulman, a Democrat, said he expects to report having over $500,000 on hand in January, when the next state campaign finance reports are due. He reported $303,609 on hand in the last report. He said it's too early now to talk about next year's elections, though he sees no sign in voter registrations of a voter revolt.

"If anybody's getting a bump, it's independents," he said. "Folks in Howard County appreciate the quality of life here," he said, mentioning public safety, the county's highly rated schools and libraries. "We're going to keep focusing on those things every day," he said.

Ulman has pushed a progressive agenda since taking office, starting his Healthy Howard health access plan for the county's uninsured and distributing large, wheeled recycling bins to most homes to boost recycling. He's also had the county buy hybrid vehicles for county inspectors and the local transit system and expanded the police force by 54 sworn officers, though the health and environmental moves drew criticism for their cost as the recession deepened.

Democrats currently control all of Howard's political institutions, with four of five council members, two of the three county state senators and six of eight state delegates, though the county has supported Republicans in the past. Ehrlich won the county in 2002, but lost it four years later.

Trent Kittleman revealed her plans at a picnic fundraiser Sen. Kittleman held Sunday on the family farm -- an event that drew a number for former Ehrlich cabinet officers, two of whom said they may run for Howard County Council seats currently held by Democrats.

Robert L. Flanagan, a former Howard state delegate and Ehrlich's transportation secretary, and Dennis R. Schrader, a former county councilman and Ehrlich's homeland security chief, both indicated they may run for County Council seats after seeming to discount the idea one month ago.

"I'm talking to people," Flanagan said when asked about reports that he's already door-knocking.

"I've moved into taking a more serious look at it," said Schrader, who served as a county councilman from 1994-98 when he ran for county executive but lost.

If incumbent Republican councilman Greg Fox is re-elected, and Flanagan and Schrader could win the seats now held by Democrats councilwomen Courtney Watson and Jen Terrasa, they would control the five-member council. Terrasa said Monday she's not in campaign mode.

"I'm keeping focused on what I'm doing," as a council member, she said.

Watson said it's "way too early" to talk about next year's campaign.

Also at the annual picnic were former Howard state senators and Ehrlich appointees Martin G. Madden and Christopher J. McCabe.

The Republicans said they increasingly feel 2010 may be a big comeback year because voters are upset and angry over issues like high unemployment and the health care debate.

"I sense there's a very strong feeling -- almost a fear out there," over government spending, Trent Kittleman said. "You can only spend into the future for so long," she said about government borrowing and growing deficits.

Now self employed as a consultant, Trent Kittleman said she has the feeling the political winds are changing, both nationally and locally.

Potential Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, and locally a growing Howard County Republican Club deliver those messages, she said. She ran once before for public office, losing a 1978 campaign for Howard County Council. In 1982, her late husband won a seat in the House of Delegates.

Allan Kittleman and others shared her optimism Sunday, and said they are encouraging her to run.

"2010 is going to be a different year, folks. I can smell it," Kittleman told his roughly 150 supporters. Later, he said Trent Kittleman brings years of private business and government experience to a potential race. "I think it's a great idea," he said. "She would be a contrast to Ulman."

Howard Del. Warren E. Miller said he too feels Republicans will benefit from public discontent nationally.

"We had two bad cycles under President Bush," he said. "But you can't blame Republicans for anything now and things aren't working," he said, referring to high unemployment. "It's going to be an up year for us."

Key to GOP hopes are whether Ehrlich himself runs for governor against O'Malley, something many Republicans think he's already doing, if not announcing.

"If Bob Ehrlich does, run, it makes a big difference," Trent Kittleman said, because it would boost Republican fundraising, energy, and excitement throughout the state.

As if in counterpoint, Democratic Party leader Michael C. A. McPherson issued a statement Saturday praising the county for having "one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state," and one of the best school systems and libraries.

"Do you want to continue this way of life or do you want to revert to something less and more ancient. Twenty-ten is a watershed for validating our quality of life by retaining all of our current office holders and electing some new ones."