For lieutenant governor-elect Michael Steele, the timing of inauguration day could
                                             not be more appropriate.

                                             He will be sworn in as Maryland's first statewide elected African-American official
                                             on Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

                                             "That will be a very exciting moment for me," Mr. Steele said. "I stand in a
                                             position where no black man or woman has ever stood in Maryland. It's an
                                             opportunity I cannot squander."

                                             Governor-elect Robert Ehrlich promises that Mr. Steele will be a full partner in the
                                             administration and will have every chance to make the most of his
                                             groundbreaking role.

                                             Mr. Steele said in a recent interview that he was not asked to join Mr. Ehrlich's
                                             ticket until the day before the July 1 announcement that he would be the GOP
                                             lieutenant governor candidate.

                                             "Bob said, `I want you to help me win. I want you to help me change Maryland,"'
                                             Mr. Steele recalled. "I said I have one question for you. Will I be a full partner in
                                             your administration?"

                                             The answer was "yes," and I said, "Done. That was it."

                                             In Maryland, the lieutenant governor has no authority or responsibilities except
                                             those given him by the governor.

                                             Mr. Steele already has been assigned primary responsibility for economic
                                             development, education and Mr. Ehrlich's plan to put more state money into
                                             programs administered by religious organizations.

                                             "Those are the three areas I will have some sway over," he said.

                                             Mr. Steele said he hopes to counsel Mr. Ehrlich on other issues and be "a voice
                                             of dissent" when the two differ.

                                             The history of the office shows the promise that Mr. Steele will be a full partner
                                             will not be an easy one to keep. Lieutenant governors, like vice presidents, often
                                             wind up on the political sidelines.

                                             New administrations in Maryland and elsewhere typically begin with the governor
                                             and lieutenant governor full of optimism that they will be a team. But there are
                                             potential pitfalls -- staff jealousies, disagreements on the issues, personality
                                             conflicts -- that can relegate the lieutenant governor to a lesser role despite the
                                             best of intentions.

                                             Melvin "Mickey" Steinberg knows from experience how everything can quickly
                                             go very, very wrong.

                                             Mr. Steinberg was elected lieutenant governor with William Donald Schaefer 16
                                             years ago, and for the first term, he played a major role in the administration. But
                                             the relationship deteriorated almost immediately in the second term to the point
                                             that Mr. Steinberg was stripped of most of his staff and all of his duties.

                                             "The first term, it was a wonderful relationship," Mr. Steinberg said. Then he said
                                             Mr. Schaefer's "palace guard" stepped in and froze him out.

                                             In the case of Samuel Bogley, who was elected lieutenant governor with Harry
                                             Hughes 24 years ago, there was an immediate meltdown brought on by an
                                             emotional disagreement over abortion.

                                             Mr. Bogley played no real role in the administration and was dumped by Mr.
                                             Hughes after the first term.

                                             Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Steele say they will be able to withstand the pressures in part
                                             because they have a close personal relationship. Mr. Steinberg, who worked on
                                             the campaign and is now on the transition team, agrees.

                                             "There is a very special social bonding between Ehrlich and Steele," he said. "It is
                                             a friendly, jovial kind of a relationship, the arms wrapping around each other, the
                                             hugging of each other.

                                             "I can feel that the vibes are completely different. I think it is going to be a very
                                             smooth relationship."

                                             Mr. Steele said he and Mr. Ehrlich have a lot in common and "feel very, very
                                             comfortable with each other."

                                             When he was called to Mr. Ehrlich's headquarters to be asked to join the ticket,
                                             Mr. Steele said much of the time was spent sitting around chatting on subjects
                                             such as football.

                                             Mr. Ehrlich said he and Mr. Steele are "a natural team." He also said Mr. Steele
                                             will not have to worry about gubernatorial aides trying to sabotage the
                                             relationship.

                                             "It won't happen. I don't put up with that," he said.

                                             As the nation's only African-American state GOP chairman, Mr. Steele has
                                             worked tirelessly to try to cut into the overwhelming African-American support
                                             for Democratic candidates in Maryland.

                                             He notes that Democrats have never nominated a African-American statewide
                                             candidate and hopes his election will cause more African-American voters to
                                             examine their allegiance to Democrats and take a fresh look at the Republican
                                             Party.

                                             While he relishes his groundbreaking role, Mr. Steele said he knows that
                                             "everything I say and do will be scrutinized. I have to jump higher. I have to run
                                             faster," he said. "There are people sitting there waiting for me to make a misstep."

                                             Published November 25, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
                                             Copyright © 2002 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.