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William Donald Schaefer (born November 2 , 1921 ) is an American politician who has served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland . A Democrat , he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987 , the 58th Governor Of Maryland from 1987 to 1995 and has been the Comptroller Of Maryland since 1999 . EARLY LIFE AND CAREER Schaefer was born in Baltimore, Maryland to William Henry and Tululu Irene Schaefer. He received early education in Baltimore's public schools, and later graduated from Baltimore City College in 1939 . Schaefer received a J.D. degree from the University Of Baltimore School of Law in 1942 . When the United States entered World War II , Schaefer joined the U.S. Army and achieved officer rank and took charge of administering hospitals in England and in the rest of Europe . He remained in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1979 , when he retired with the rank of Colonel . Schaefer resumed his legal career afterwards, practicing Real Estate law. He earned a Master of Law degree in 1954 from the University of Baltimore School of Law and formed a general practice law firm with two colleagues. His concern for city planning and housing issues propelled him to a seat representing the 5th District on the Baltimore City Council in 1955 . In 1967 , Schaefer ran successfully for Baltimore City Council president and, four years later, he ran successfully for the mayor's office. Schaefer served four terms as mayor, being re-elected in 1975 , 1979 and 1983 , each time receiving 85% or more of the vote. GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND Schaefer, with running mate Melvin Steinberg , was overwhelmingly elected the 58th governor of Maryland in 1986 , defeating Republican challenger Thomas J. Mooney with 82% of the vote, the largest percentage total ever for a contested statewide election in Maryland. He was re-elected in 1990 with almost 60% of the vote. Schaefer's legacy includes the construction of Oriole Park At Camden Yards , stricter measures taken against preventing and solving the Chesapeake Bay pollution problem, higher standards for Public Schools and higher tax rates. He retired from position as governor in 1995 after serving the maximum two terms. Detractors remind the public that, in the winter of 1991, Gov. Schaefer compared Maryland's Eastern Shore to an Outhouse (he actually called the region a "shithouse"). When the remark circulated, Eastern Shore residents erupted in protest, even hoisting wooden outhouses and bags of manure on their pickup trucks and heading for the governor's mansion. Republicans in the Democratic state applaud that he supported Republican George H. W. Bush in the 1992 Presidential Election . {Link without Title} POST-GOVERNOR LIFE AND CAREER Following his career as governor, Schaefer became Of Counsel to the Law Firm of Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC , in Baltimore until 1999. The William Donald Schaefer Chair was established at University Of Maryland, College Park 's School of Public Affairs in 1995 . Schaefer held the position until he became Comptroller Of Maryland in 1999, at which time the program was expanded to include funded internships. He was re-elected as Comptroller in 2002. Schaefer had a long-time companion in Hilda Mae Snoops, who was his "official hostess" in the Governor's mansion. She commissioned a controversial Victorian-style outdoor fountain and helped design a rose garden and walkways. The fountain is featured in her First Lady's portrait. After her death in 1999, it became a source of controversy as Schaefer accused his successor, Parris Glendening , of using it to get political revenge by turning it off, supposedly to save water even though it recycles existing water. Upon becoming Governor, Robert Ehrlich held a ceremony to turn the water back on the fountain. Snoops is in the mauselem at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens , with an adjacent place reserved for Schaefer. Schaefer feuded frequently with Governor Parris N. Glendening at the bi-monthly Board of Public Works (BPW) meetings, once calling him a "despot" and frequently chiding him. Schaefer frequently referred to Glendening as " Ayatollah ." Schaefer enjoys considerably warmer relations with Gov. Ehrlich, the Republican who succeeded Glendening in January 2003. This man is constantly known as "hard working" be many and now even late in his career he continues to be a strong poltician. CONTROVERSIES As comptroller, Schaefer has regularly spoken critically of immigrants who cannot communicate in English, particularly a Spanish-speaking McDonald's counterperson in an infamous 2004 comment. Schaefer also stirred up controversy on October 12 , 2004 , when he called people with AIDS "a danger" and said those with the disease "brought it on themselves." Since the 1990s , he has repeatedly called for a public registry listing HIV -positive Maryland residents. "As far as I'm concerned, people who have AIDS are a danger," Schaefer said. "People should be able to know who has AIDS." On February 15 , 2006 , Schaefer made suggestive comments to Elizabeth Krum, a 24-year-old assistant to Governor Robert Ehrlich . Responding to Schaefer's request for tea, Krum set a thermal mug in front of him. Schaefer watched her walk away, then beckoned for her to return. When she obliged, he told her, "Walk again," staring after her as she left the conference room. Schaefer refused to apologize, saying, "She's a pretty little girl. She ought to be damn happy that I observed her going out the door. The day I don't look at pretty women is the day I die." (Schaefer has long called the women with whom he works "little girls.") However, within hours of the leering incident Schaefer reversed himself and issued a handwritten apology to Ms. Krum. SOURCES
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