Lobbying reform is necessary for county
by Kai Hagen
January 12, 2006
Lobbyists have been in the news a lot lately. The biggest news comes from the biggest stage, where the Jack Abramoff scandal in Washington, D.C. has lawmakers hurrying to introduce lobbying reforms.
The political heat has brought long-simmering cynicism to boil, and legislators afraid of getting burned may enact previously ignored proposals to increase transparency, reduce out-of-control influence peddling, and overhaul campaign-finance rules.
We’ll have to wait and see if the reforms will be substantial.
It also remains to be seen if the Washington scandal will have an impact in Frederick County, where Commission President John ‘‘Lennie‘‘ Thompson Jr. and Commissioner Jan H. Gardner have repeatedly and unsuccessfully introduced or supported improvements to the county’s ethics ordinance and meaningful lobbying reforms.
Their persistence is admirable, but two commissioners aren’t enough.
Commission Vice President Michael L. Cady, and commissioners John R. Lovell Jr. and Bruce L. Reeder have been determined to resist the efforts, opposing each proposal. They take offense at the suggestion that reforms might be necessary, even though many Maryland counties have similar laws.
Despite the protestations from some commissioners, and resistance from certain interest groups — including the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, numerous developers and the attorneys who represent them — improvements to our ethics ordinance and lobbying reforms are necessary.
They’re necessary because the decision-making process isn’t happening on a level playing field, in part because narrowly focused interest groups are able to hire attorneys and professional lobbyists.
While the average person is at work, a cadre of well-paid lawyers works to influence our elected officials. They know the relevant ordinances. They attend the recommended meetings. They know the relevant county staff and our elected officials. They have the time and money to draft, submit and advocate for ordinances and amendments.
They and the clients they represent are frequently the largest contributors to the campaigns of the same elected officials they lobby.
The goal of any reform is not to prohibit lobbying. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects our right to petition our government. In fact, most of the reforms that have been proposed for Frederick County have been modest, concentrating primarily on ensuring transparency.
We should expect lawyers to zealously represent their clients. But there is zeal, and there is overzealous influence peddling that undermines democracy and good governance.
For instance, Thompson recently submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the governor’s office to obtain a copy of a letter sent from Rand Weinberg, a land-use attorney in Frederick County, to Paul E. Schurick, the Director of Communications for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
The letter complained about some decisions made by the commissioners regarding the New Market Region Plan update. Mr. Weinberg was incensed about a letter sent from the Maryland Department of Planning that expressed a number of concerns about the Planning Commission’s draft.
What was notable was not so much that he would write a letter, but that, in the zealous representation of his client, Mr. Weinberg turned a complex set of facts and circumstances into a personal diatribe riddled with misleading descriptions, omissions, and erroneous ‘‘facts.” In addition, he referred to commissioners Thompson and Gardner as ‘‘radical no-growth” commissioners, contrasting them with the ‘‘two pro-business Republican County Commissioners.”
He went on to say that ‘‘this is exactly the kind of thing that many people in Frederick County swarmed to the polls three years ago to correct.”
And, in case that wasn’t clear, he further described the last election as a ‘‘crusade” against ‘‘overprotective, overbearing” government.
Finally, he wrote: ‘‘I hope we can get together for our follow-up lunch that we discussed at the Red Horse the other night. Please call me at any time.”
Multiply Mr. Weinberg by dozens of narrowly focused and zealous land-use attorneys working Winchester Hall, add an abundance of generous campaign contributions, subtract ethics and lobbying reform, and it’s no surprise that our playing field is tilted in their direction. The broader public interest is always facing an uphill climb.
WHY I'M VOTING FOR KAI!
Adam Schultz
Thurmont
As a lifelong resident of northern Frederick County, I know Kai Hagen will represent my interests as a Frederick County Commissioner. His dedication to our community, his commitment to finding the best solutions, and his integrity are unsurpassed. If you're looking for a County Commissioner who will finally stand up to the developers, and stand with us, someone who doesn't see Montgomery County as a model for our future, then Kai Hagen...
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