Goldwater says she’s healthy enough to run

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006

A Bethesda delegate says concerns that her health will prevent her from finishing another term in Annapolis, if elected this fall, are unfounded.

Del. Marilyn Goldwater (D-Dist. 16) said she has heard the rumors that she is in poor health, but said she feels fine and does not plan to resign anytime soon.

‘‘I certainly am planning to run and have been planning to run,” Goldwater said Thursday. ‘‘I have no idea where that rumor came from and I wish it would go away. Because it’s not true.”

Despite being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, Goldwater, 79, said the disease has not affected her ability to represent her district. But some political observers have pointed to missed votes during the last General Assembly session as evidence that her health could become a factor if re-elected.

‘‘I think everyone admires her courage in continuing to represent the people and the issues that she cares about,” Cheryl Kagan, a former District 17 delegate and current director of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. ‘‘I think many people thought it would be prudent for her to focus on her health rather than a vigorous election this year. And we’re troubled by her attendance record.”

Also fueling speculation on Goldwater’s plans is her scarceness on the campaign trail, despite facing two Democratic challengers in the Sept. 12 primary. In her Aug. 15 campaign finance report, Goldwater did not report any campaign contributions.

‘‘I haven’t really done a lot of campaigning right now,” she said. ‘‘It’s very early. When people know you, there’s not that many events to go to.”

Goldwater has served in Annapolis for 22 years — from 1975 to 1986, and then 1995 to the present.

This year she is running on a slate with fellow incumbents Del. William A. Bronrott (D) and Del. Susan C. Lee (D), both of Bethesda, and Sen. Brian E. Frosh of Chevy Chase.

Two challengers, Charles A. Chester of North Bethesda and Regina ‘‘Reggie” Oldak of Bethesda, are also running.

Both Chester and Oldak said they filed to run just before the deadline because Goldwater had not yet filed. Goldwater filed June 30, three days before the filing date.

Oldak said she hoped to have the opportunity to work with Goldwater if elected, but also questioned her attendance record in the last session. Goldwater missed 18 days during the 90-day session, most of which were between March 16 and April 4.

Goldwater said the absences were due to flu and bronchitis. Her cancer, which she has had for three years, was not a factor, she said.

Goldwater said she has also heard speculation that if she is elected, she plans to step down and have the Democratic Central Committee appoint her successor.

‘‘I certainly have no intention of running and then stepping down,” she said. ‘‘I think that would not be an appropriate thing to do.”

In the current General Assembly, 30 of the 141 members of the House of Delegates and 11 of the 47 members of the Senate were appointed to their seats between 1997 and 2006.

Bobbie Walton, executive director of Common Cause Maryland, said her organization would prefer that Maryland hold special elections in cases where a state representative vacates a seat before the end of the term.

‘‘We think it would provide for a better opportunity for people to choose their own government,” Walton said

Bronrott and Lee said they knew of no plan for Goldwater to step down.

Lee, who was first appointed to her seat in 2002 after Nancy K. Kopp was appointed State Treasurer, said she thought it was premature to talk about Goldwater stepping down.

‘‘When Del. Marilyn Goldwater makes up her mind, she goes full steam ahead.”