Franchot on the Campaign Trail

Aside from a few members of the news media, there was little overlap in the audiences when Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's held a news conference in Silver Spring on slots and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's town hall meeting in Germantown on sprawl.

With one notable exception, that is: Del. Peter Franchot (D-Montgomery), who is running for comptroller.

Franchot was among the anti-slots speakers at Duncan's afternoon event Thursday. He played no formal role in O'Malley's event that evening but was introduced to the crowd by the gubernatorial hopeful.

In an interview afterward, Franchot said he remains neutral in the governor's race and considers himself "an issue-based candidate for comptroller."

"Both of my opponents are pro-slots, and both of my opponents are pro-sprawl," Franchot said. "I was at those two events because both of those are issues I care very strongly about."

Franchot is challenging Comptroller William Donald Schaefer for the Democratic nomination. Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens (D) has also joined the primary race.

John Wagner