There was no shortage of drama in Charm City last night as two mayoral challengers held a fundraising competition over crab nibbles in plush downtown environs while sleet and snow swirled outside.

The events kicked off what promises to be a contentious political season.

At the Hippodrome Theatre, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was introduced to a crowd of about 200 supporters by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, who described her as “steady as a rock” and even cooed about her honor’s good looks, telling the crowd that some of his colleagues have commented on her splendor while discussing the city’s mojo.

“She is on the front line,” Cummings said. “She’s passionate. She’s brilliant. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we are well led by Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.”

The mayor, dressed in an amethyst-hued silk shantung suit, took the podium and listed some of her leadership accomplishments over the past year, including Snowmagheddon, economic development, education, budget axing in a time of massive shortfalls and public safety.

“We have had several challenges,” she said. “And things require tough decisions. I demand that Baltimore continues to move forward.”

Less than a mile away at the Tremont Grand, challenger Otis Rolley III was also at center stage with the help of comedian Bill Cosby, a Philadelphian. Rolley, the former chief of staff for Mayor Sheila Dixon and the city’s director of planning, told supporters he believes Baltimore needs more energy at the top.

“I have a blueprint for Baltimore,” said Rolley, dressed in a dark suit and power red paisley tie. “I want to create a world-class city and have a six-point plan I plan to release over the next four months, including education, health, neighborhoods and economic development.”

The Cos, made available to the press for 15 minutes by his handlers at Spin, a local PR firm, offered thoughts on urban life and at times seemed out of touch with Baltimore’s unique issues. When asked, “Why Otis? Why now?” he seemed to lose focus before requesting the question be posed again, in a clearer format.

“You know what? I really hate that . . . What does that question mean? As opposed to what? Coca-Cola?”

Cosby then began a rambling dissertation on how he “met” Rolley over the phone, “kind of like a blind date” and asked him why he wanted to be the city’s mayor.

“Are you willing to die for the people?” he said he asked Rolley. “People running for public office say things. Are you willing to put yourself out there? Are you willing to die?”

While Rawlings-Blake’s handlers opened her fundraiser for the media to see the crowd that included Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Rolley’s reps limited access to his event.

The mayor finished the night raising more than $600,000, including 50 donors who shelled out $4,000 each for a VIP reception, her officials said.

Rolley’s camp was cautious releasing details Wednesday. A source said the candidate attracted 20 donors to his $4,000 per plate sit-down dinner.

“Part of the strategic plan is not to release numbers,” said Lisa Harlow, a spokeswoman for the Rolley campaign who declined to address specifics. “We will release how much we made on Jan. 20 when the reports are due” in Annapolis at the state Board of Elections.

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Photo of Catherine Pugh from her website, catherinepugh.com

State Sen. Catherine E. Pugh will hold a fundraiser Thursday morning at Gertrude’s at the Baltimore Museum of Art – but the perennial city pol is being coy about dishing whether she is eyeing a run for the mayor’s job.

Pugh, a former city councilwoman, member of the House of Delegates and now serving her second term in the state senator representing District 14, said Wednesday of the mayor’s post: “I have been asked by several people to give it full consideration.”

As for now, she added, she is keeping the General Assembly session—opening Jan. 12—as the center of her attention.

“I haven’t said anything yet,” she said about a run for CEO of Baltimore. “I am honestly focused on the senate because I’ve got a whole bunch of legislation to introduce. I’ve got a lot on my plate now. I will assess things toward the end of the session.”

Pugh did opine that Baltimore needs more “energy, vision and creativity” to lead it into the future. She declined to evaluate the job of current Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, saying she has been focused on statewide elections instead.

“The city needs committed leadership to galvanize and bring folks to the table and move the city forward,” she said in a brief interview late Wednesday morning.

When the General Assembly does convene, Pugh will have her hands full. She’s the newly elected vice chair of the city delegation, vice chair of the Women’s Caucus, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and deputy majority leader of the senate.

“I am focused on dealing with specific things, so I guess that’s the reward of working hard,” she said of the new responsibilities.

About 40 supporters are expected at Gertrude’s beginning at 7:30 a.m. to nosh on breakfast foods and meet with Pugh. Tickets to attend are $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,500. It is Pugh’s fourth fundraiser at the swanky eatery in north Baltimore, held around this time each year.

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The most-read stories of 2010 by The Daily Record’s business reporting team mirror many of the big ongoing stories that have dominated the news since the economy cratered two years ago — failed banks, slot machine gambling, struggling commercial real estate developments, and City Hall politics.

1. Two Maryland banks closed by regulators – Ben Mook

Federal regulators closed two troubled Maryland banks, including one that was believed to have been the oldest black-owned financial institution in the state. Bay National Bank and Baltimore-based Ideal Federal Savings Bank Friday became the fourth and fifth Maryland banks to be closed over the last two years.

2. Baltimore’s FiOS chances getting slimmer – Staff and Wire reports

Verizon is nearing the end of its program to replace copper phone lines with optical fibers that provide much higher Internet speeds and TV service. Its focus is now on completing the network in the communities where it has already secured “franchises” — and that means major cities such as Baltimore and downtown Boston will be left without FiOS.

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There’s a long way to go before the November election, and even longer before returning lawmakers and their newly elected colleagues head back to Annapolis to get down to business.

There are, however, some certainties that came out of Tuesday night’s primary election. And, of course, there are plenty of questions left unanswered.

Tuesday night’s results set up the expected matchup of old rivals — Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., with both men seeking four more years in the governor’s mansion. And much of the attention in Baltimore will be on the state’s attorney race, where Gregg Bernstein holds a 1,400-vote lead over longtime incumbent Patricia Bessamy with 3,000 absentee ballots still to be counted.

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I was walking on Calvert Street earlier this morning and saw a truck slowly driving by The Baltimore Sun’s main office. The driver was yelling something about slots out of the truck, but it was difficult to make out. I got my camera out in time and was able to snap this picture.

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Former Gov. Ehrlich has made no formal reelection announcement, but “Bring Back Ehrlich 2010″ bumper stickers are already being distributed. Supporters have also started a Facebook page voicing support for the former governor.

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As if journalism needs something else to lessen its credibility in this age of talking heads on TV and talk radio powered by hot-air windbags, Joe the Plumber has decided to be a war correspondent in Israel for a conservative news site.

Apparently installing toilets and hot water heaters goes hand in hand with being a foreign correspondent and having in-depth knowledge of international affairs. Even just superficial knowledge might qualify for the Web, but unless he’s been unclogging toilets in the Gaza Strip, how much more could he possibly know beyond your “average Joe”?

Obviously, a site that would hire a prop from the recent election as a war correspondent is aiming for a very unbiased, “fair and balanced” angle. Maybe they can hire Alberto Gonzales to cover the gradual closing of Guantanamo Bay.

I’m just happy for my carpenter brother, who can finally fulfill his dream of putting his hammer down and taking a hard, journalistic look at the Indian-Pakistani issue of Kashmir.

FRANCIS SMITH, Special Publications Assistant Editor

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Election night was definitely a night of fancy new technologies, highlighted — in my opinion — by CNN’s “hologram technology,” which brought digital versions of people into the network’s election news center. I know it was silly, expensive and unnecessary — but it also reminded me of Star Wars, and I kept expecting Leia to show up and ask Anderson Cooper for help in defeating the Empire.

Still, due to a slight bit of user error (my being dumb) I was able to experience CNN calling the election for President-elect Obama in a way devoid of technology. Not an easy thing to do in the modern world.

Like many Americans, I spent most of election night on the couch watching returns come in., and leaning in close every time a new state was called for one of the candidates. Unfortunately for me, an ill-timed trip to the kitchen meant I missed one state’s results. A quick rewind of the DVR filled me in, but then I got distracted and forgot to move back up to real time.

So there I am, sitting in my 14th-floor apartment in downtown Baltimore, watching the talking heads blather on. And suddenly I hear cheering in the streets and car horns honking wildly — and I knew it was over. A click of the “live” button on the television remote confirmed it.

It wasn’t intentional, but it was a novel way to learn we had a new president. Who knows — I might even start turning off the TV more often.

JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist

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