http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/28/AR2009122802012.htmlGeorge W. Owings III, a former legislator from Southern Maryland and former state secretary of veterans affairs, appears poised to formally announce next week that he will challenge Gov. Martin O'Malley in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Owings, a Democrat who served in the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), has scheduled a news conference for Jan. 6 outside the courthouse in Prince Frederick.
In an interview Monday, Owings, 64, declined to confirm that he is running for governor next year -- a prospect he has openly talked about since the spring -- but said that he will not be endorsing the reelection of O'Malley.
"You can assume that is correct," said Owings, a Dunkirk resident who has been highly critical of O'Malley's handling of the state budget. "I will be making a formal announcement. It will be positive in nature."