1998 Maryland county executive elections

1998 Maryland county executive elections

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
All 6 of Maryland's county executive seats
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 4 2 Seats won 5 1 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 671,356 280,660 Percentage 70.52% 29.48%
Democratic   50–60%   70–80%   100% Republican   50-60%

The Maryland county executive elections of 1998 took place on November 3, 1998. Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County elected county executives.

Anne Arundel County

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John G. Gary, incumbent county executive ^[1]

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John G. Gary (incumbent)	19,003	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Janet S. Owens, judge of the Anne Arundel County Orphans' Court ^[3]

Eliminated in primary

• Diane R. Evans, county councilmember ^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janet S. Owens	20,047	51.3%
	Democratic	Diane R. Evans	19,069	48.7%

General election

Results

Anne Arundel County Executive election, 1998 ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janet S. Owens	87,676	57.8%
	Republican	John G. Gary (incumbent)	63,879	42.1%
	Write-in		226	0.1%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Baltimore County

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dutch Ruppersberger, incumbent county executive ^[6]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dutch Ruppersberger (incumbent)	55,700	100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John J. Bishop, state delegate ^[8]

Results

Republican primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John J. Bishop	22,085	100.0%

General election

Results

Baltimore County Executive election, 1998 ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dutch Ruppersberger (incumbent)	166,482	70.5%
	Republican	John J. Bishop	69,449	29.4%
	Write-in		324	0.1%
	Democratic hold

Harford County

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Art Helton, former state senator ^[10]

Eliminated in primary

• Robert W. Cos, crane safety consultant ^[11]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Art Helton	11,173	66.7%
	Democratic	Robert W. Cos	5,586	33.3%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• James M. Harkins, state delegate ^[13]

Eliminated in primary

• David R. Craig, state senator ^[14]
• Vedell Pace, helicopter engineer ^[15]

Results

Republican primary results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James M. Harkins	8,522	55.7%
	Republican	David R. Craig	6,585	43.0%
	Republican	Vedell Pace	192	0.1%

General election

Results

Harford County Executive election, 1998 ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James M. Harkins	37,548	52.2%
	Democratic	Art Helton	34,169	47.5%
	Write-in		181	0.3%
	Republican gain from Democratic

Howard County

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dennis R. Schrader, county councilmember ^[17]

Eliminated in primary

• Charles C. Feaga, county councilmember ^[18]

Results

Republican primary results ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dennis R. Schrader	7,559	52.3%
	Republican	Charles C. Feaga	6,902	47.7%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• James N. Robey, chief of the Howard County Police Department ^[20]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James N. Robey	14,980	100.0%

General election

Results

Howard County Executive election, 1998 ^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James N. Robey	44,960	55.0%
	Republican	Dennis R. Schrader	36,746	44.9%
	Write-in		82	0.1%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Montgomery County

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Duncan, incumbent county executive ^[22]

Eliminated in primary

• Michael K. Brown, postal worker ^[23]
• Norman Hoffman, urban revitalization consultant and World War II veteran ^[23]
• Susan C. Rich, animal rights acivist ^[23]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Doug Duncan (incumbent)	56,233	80.2%
	Democratic	Susan C. Rich	9,188	13.1%
	Democratic	Michael K. Brown	2,442	3.5%
	Democratic	Norman Hoffman	2,262	3.2%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• James Schneider, real estate agent ^[25]

Results

Republican primary results ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Schneider	17,829	100.0%

General election

Results

Montgomery County Executive election, 1998 ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Doug Duncan (incumbent)	192,525	72.4%
	Republican	James Schneider	73,038	27.5%
	Write-in		460	0.2%
	Democratic hold

Prince George's County

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Wayne Curry, incumbent county executive ^[27]

Eliminated in primary

• Randy McRae, accountant and personal injury lawyer ^[28]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wayne Curry (incumbent)	43,018	73.7%
	Democratic	Randy McRae	15,361	26.3%

General election

Results

Prince George's County Executive election, 1998 ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wayne Curry (incumbent)	145,544	100.0%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Marsh, Sara (November 11, 1997). "Gary's war chest nears record". The Capital . p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Anne Arundel County Primary Election Returns". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
3. Weir, Karessa E. (May 17, 1998). "Owens tosses hat into ring". The Capital . p. 32. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Pelton, Tom (January 8, 1998). "Evans challenges Gary in Arundel for his county executive position". The Baltimore Sun . p. 127. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Anne Arundel County General Election Returns". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
6. Carson, Larry (February 16, 1998). "Ruppersberger uses teamwork approach as Balto. County leader". The Baltimore Sun . p. 20. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Baltimore County Primary Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
8. Carson, Larry (July 4, 1998). "Bishop filing vexes GOP". The Baltimore Sun . p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Baltimore County General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
10. "HELTON: County Executive candidate". The Aegis . May 20, 1998. p. 7. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Harford election battle shaping up". The Aegis . June 24, 1998. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Harford County Primary Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
13. Respers, Lisa (November 5, 1997). "Delegate Harkins announces plans to run for Harford County executive". The Baltimore Sun . p. 22. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Craig files for Harford County executive". The Aegis . June 17, 1998. p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
15. "Parade of candidates ends". The Aegis . July 8, 1998. p. 5. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Harford County General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
17. Timberg, Craig (March 20, 1998). "Schrader announces run for executive". The Baltimore Sun . p. 151. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
18. Timberg, Craig (June 4, 1997). "Feaga enters the GOP race for executive". The Baltimore Sun . p. 123. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Howard County Primary Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
20. Timberg, Craig (December 30, 1997). "Robey hopes to replace Ecker". The Baltimore Sun . p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
21. "Howard County General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
22. Ruane, Michael E. (June 1, 1998). "Duncan launches campaign in Montgomery". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
23. Perez-Rivas, Manuel (September 11, 1998). "Unknowns challenge Duncan". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
24. "Montgomery County Primary Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
25. Perez-Rivas, Manuel (September 17, 1998). "Montgomery's Duncan fails to boost council support". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
26. "Montgomery County General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
27. Spinner, Jackie (June 17, 1998). "Confident Curry seeks 2nd term in Pr. George's". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
28. Spinner, Jackie (August 27, 1998). "Pr. George's hopeful is 'no angel'". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
29. "Prince George's County, Maryland - Primary Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
30. "Prince George's County General Election Returns 1998". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved March 3, 2025.