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July 8, 2009

Slated for cash

This morning, we reported that out-going Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith has a nice chunk of political change to donate to other candidates, about $1.2 million, sources close to him report. And we explain a way he could circumvent the $6,000 candidate-to-candidate limit. He could transfer an unlimited amount to his Baltimore County Victory Slate, established for the 2006 gubernatorial election. The slate could then transfer virtually any amount to any other candidate on the slate. Right now, Smith is one of 21 members, though other candidates, even if they have nothing to do with Baltimore County, can be added at any time. Common Cause, a Maryland group that favors campaign finance reform, says such intra-slate transfers are tantamount to a “slush fund.”

Here are the current Baltimore County Victory Slate members, all Democrats:

Andrew Belt, sought Baltimore County delegate seat
Jon Cardin, Baltimore County delegate
Patricia Foerster, former president of Maryland State Teachers Union
Linda Hart, Baltimore County Democratic State Central Committee elected member
Delores Kelley, Baltimore County senator
Katherine Klausmeier, Baltimore County senator
Stephen Lafferty, Baltimore County delegate seat
Tracy Miller, sought Baltimore County delegate seat
Joseph Minnick, Baltimore County delegate
Dan Morhaim, Baltimore County delegate
Martin O’Malley, governor
Kenneth Oliver, Baltimore County councilman
John Olszewski, Baltimore County delegate (Johnny O’s son)
John “Johnny O” Olszewski, Baltimore County councilman
Todd Schuler, Baltimore County delegate
* Scott Shellenberger, Baltimore County state’s attorney
James T. Smith, Baltimore County executive
Norman Stone, Baltimore County senator
Jack Sturgill, sought Baltimore County delegate seat
Michael Weir, Baltimore County delegate
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore County senator

Note that neither Kevin Kamenetz nor Joe Bartenfelder, considered the leading candidates to replace Smith as county executive, is on the list.

* Shellenberger, as we reported this morning, has already greatly benefited from this slate. In 2006, Smith transferred $585,000 to the slate, and Shellenberger, a first-time candidate in a tight race, received $435,000 from it.

Posted by Julie Bykowicz at 10:04 AM | | Comments (0)
        

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About the bloggers
Laura Smitherman has been ensconced in the State House basement, writing about the governor, General Assembly and vagaries of Maryland politics for several years. An erstwhile business reporter, her interest in politics dates to her days in Washington when she covered Congress and national campaigns for another media outlet. She now follows a range of policy debates from slot-machine gambling to universal health care and energy regulation, while keeping an eye on the next election.

Paul West covers Washington for The Baltimore Sun, continuing a tradition that began the month the paper was born, in 1837. He hasn't been in the DC bureau that long--only since Ronald Reagan was president. He's covered Congress, the White House and presidential campaigns as the paper's national political correspondent and Washington bureau chief. He's on the lookout for news of significance to Sun readers at the other end of the B/W Parkway. That includes the activities of the state's congressional delegation and anything else that might shed some light on the inner workings of the nation's capital.

Julie Bykowicz's first days as a political reporter, in January 2009, coincided with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's indictment and the start of the Maryland General Assembly's 426th legislative session. She focuses on coverage of state agencies, such as social services, juvenile justice and prisons. During the session, she wrote about the death penalty, slots parlors and speed cameras, among other hot topics. Julie began political reporting after more than seven years on The Baltimore Sun's crime desk. She lives in Baltimore and works primarily in Annapolis.

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