if candidateMap == nil {
		candidateMap = make(map[string]string)
	}
	for k, v := range candidateMap {
		if isLocalAnnotationKey(k) {
			continue
		}
		if existingValue, ok := existingMap[k]; ok && existingValue == v {
			continue
		}
		return false
	}
	for k := range existingMap {
		if isLocalAnnotationKey(k) {
			continue
		}
		// stale entry in existing map.