Candidates questioned on funds
Wednesday, October 11, 2006By Cliff Cumber
FREDERICK -- The question of how much money county commissioner candidates had taken from developers highlighted stark divisions in the growth debate wracking the election.
Residents of Buckingham's Choice, a retirement community near Buckeystown, weren't shy about grilling candidates at an all-day forum Monday, featuring contenders from nearly every race.
"I'd like to ask each candidate if they can tell me what percentage of their campaign funds have come from developers," resident Gale Burwell asked.
"None, zero," Commissioner John L. Thompson Jr. shouted in reply.
Mr. Thompson, a Republican, is the most solidly anti-growth member of the five-person board. He has consistently refused donations from development interests.
Commissioner John Lovell jumped up quickly to the podium to question the questioner. What did development contributions have to do with issues the commissioners dealt with, he asked.
"You've gotta get past the hype of someone standing up here in an ice-cream suit and telling you how pure they are," he said, a reference to Mr. Thompson's predilection for white suits.
The comment elicited "Ooos" from the audience.
"That is not the issue here," Mr. Lovell continued. "The issue is not whether we pretend to be pure, the issue is whether we are or not."
Mr. Thompson's campaign finance restrictions were shared by nearly all the candidates sitting near him: Commissioner Jan Gardner, Dick Floyd and Kai Hagen, all Democrats.
"I have to plead $100," said Ron Wolf, a Democrat.
But more than just campaign finance, people should question why Mr. Lovell and Mr. Cady had been two of the three votes that defeated stronger campaign finance laws to prevent contributions to commissioners from applicants with rezoning business with the county, Mr. Hagen said.
The third voter, Commissioner Bruce Reeder, a Democrat, will retire at the end of his term.
"If we're going to level the playing field and tilt it back more in favor of public interests in this county, we are going to have to make sure that those interests do not have vastly disproportionate power and influence," Mr. Hagen said.
The Buckingham's Choice stage was divided along the same boundaries that define candidates' platforms -- three on one side, five on the other.
To the left was Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Lovell and Mr. Cady, all Republicans and all of whom have taken donations from developers, builders and real estate agents, according to recent financial reports.
On the right was a field of five who see the county board's growth policies as tilted too heavily toward the development industry.
Former commissioner David Gray was undergoing minor surgery and could not attend.
Mr. Jenkins said maybe 30 percent of his money came from developers. Mr. Cady said he has set up a committee to oversee contributions, which he limited to a $500 maximum, and was unaware of who had donated, although he knows the total amount of his account.
"All contributions go directly to my treasurer," he said.
WHY I'M VOTING FOR KAI!
Alan Feinberg
Frederick
I've known Kai ever since we began crossing paths at all the odd places and events that people go to "fix" things in the community. Kai is much more focused on actually sitting through endless, boring public meetings than I, since I do not have that kind of patience. Thank goodness for Kai. I'm a licensed architect, certified planner, urban designer, mediator, and now, principally an implementer of all that I've learned -- a different...
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