Kendel Ehrlich: Will She Or Won't She?

ANNAPOLIS - It was election night, and the losing candidate for governor devoted several minutes of his concession speech to the woman standing behind him on stage.

"I married the right girl -- Kendel Ehrlich -- trust me," Bob Ehrlich said. "She loves politics, college football, and golf, you know, come on."

That night, former governor Ehrlich said that his own political career was coming to a close. But what of his wife, a political enthusiast herself? Would she pick up the torch and run for a seat?

Those acquainted with her over the years -- as well as GOP leaders in the state and Anne Arundel County -- said she has all the qualities of an electable candidate. And some say they'd like to see her run.

But in a recent interview at her home in Annapolis, Kendel Ehrlich said that public office isn't in the foreseeable future, although she did not completely dismiss the possibility.

"I'm certainly not discounting it sometime in my future, but I'm certainly really focused right now on what I'm doing -- being with the kids and the radio -- at this point in time," she said.

GOP leaders, coworkers, former employees and friends all say Ehrlich never actually told them of political aspirations, but they wouldn't be surprised if she made a run, either.

"If she decided to run someday, and I hope she would, she would be an amazing candidate," said Derek Fink, who was a press secretary for Kendel Ehrlich in her final years as Maryland's first lady.

"She's a strong leader. She's a very positive person ... I can tell you she's genuine. She really does believe in the issues she takes on," said Fink, who was elected last month to Anne Arundel county council.

If Ehrlich does run for a seat, she'd already be accustomed to the political spotlight, which she was immediately introduced to 20 years ago when she started dating Bob Ehrlich, then a state legislator running for his second term.

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