Maryland Insurance

The burled mahogany conference table was for breakfast.

On his head was sitting R. Ellen Sauerbrey, the first Republican in a generation, as an opportunity for the governor of Maryland. Six dentists gathered around them, each of whom had paid $ 1000 for a chance to discuss the law of medical liability insurance rates, tort reform and other issues on their pocketbooks. Lee W. Warner just listened. His task was completed.

Warner, the owner of a financial services company, had organized the breakfast, which took place in his sixth floor of an office in the northern suburb of Baltimore. He began planning the event weeks ago, while sitting in his dentist chair.

A paper bib depend on his neck, his dentist Warner said he would arrange a meeting with Sauerbrey, if the dentist has some of his colleagues to visit.

It was another feature Sauerbrey success of the campaign, courtesy of Warner. It is towards the increase of more than $ 1 million at the end of the campaign, nearly a quarter of Sauerbrey to all contributions. In doing so, Warner has become one of the best public campaign finance “rainmakers” at its first attempt, because he never money for a candidate before Maryland. Already, it is virtually unknown in political circles public Sauerbrey out of the campaign.

Warner is the head of a new reference group staunch Republican, donor breeders and in Maryland, Sauerbrey to a drift state GOP fundraising record of more than $ 4 million. The money is therefore his game N. Dir Parris Glendening (D) announced for Ad-during the period up to the November 3 election. Dürftig fund-raising in his campaign four years ago Sauerbrey asked for public financing and accept the limits of their expenses.

More specific policy proposal, new donors are Sauerbrey this fund breeders call “winnability. The aura of money, developers, insurance executives, bankers and others believe that they are gifts prominently with a Republican administration, according to political analysts and professional breeders funds. Warner, a country at the Cabinet for his work.

Warner describes August-lunch and other events as “intimate, personal opportunities to learn about Ellen, it will be deprived of issues, maybe you do not want in an artificial environment.” He denies the contributions directly buy something.

“I do not know if a cheque for $ 1000 is better with eggs, bacon and bagels, but there was something for their money,” said Warner.

Campaign Finance supporters of reform say that these meetings are a sign that cost businesses money in the past, the political arena, or feeds the status of the Democratic machine is moving in the direction Republican.

“There was a large amount of money spent waiting,” said Kathleen Skullney, Executive Director of the government watchdog group common cause Maryland. “The situation now appears on these investors [GOP colleagues] as promising a reasonable expectation of return on their investment [Sauerbrey].”

With the help of a thin Warner and, in some polls, Sauerbrey has money for Republicans, remained outside of Maryland’s Democrat-dominated politics. Sauerbrey advisers estimate that over half of its 5000 new donors have never written or whether a policy Maryland case, until this choice, and the influx of new funds for the creation of a party Fund Raising machine secure the political transformation of Maryland for years to come.

“Once you have a group on the ground, this group is always for the party and its candidates,” said Paul S. Herrnson, a government and politics-Professor at the University of Maryland in College Park

In fact, Republicans and Democrats agree that Sauerbrey was placed on the relationship between quality and at a fevered pace and will continue through Election Day. It is anticipated at 18 events this month, and advisers are far from human beings hope to host fund farmers, due to lack of time. An event is $ 1,000-a-breakfast in person Warners office on October 26

Warner is a humble man monetary policy, given that made his fortune as masters of the art of succession planning to dry his company with headquarters in Timonium. Until this year, his fundraising is entitled to the glory of the Methodist Church, he visited black for the first time in 14 years. He warned that the strength of its financial advisory bands is a sleep inducer.

At 43, he is not wearing tie Brash, no political convictions in the edges. It favors dark suits his 6-foot frame something that adorns his office with Chippendale antiques, hair and left his aging easily in the temples. His company, which L. Warner Cos, advises more than 3000 rich leaders, doctors and athletes from Germany, as you the best of their money. There are no public markets and did not talk about its customers.