Some Democratic turncoats who supported Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich in his gubernatorial race four years ago have returned to the fold ? and are backing Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley in his challenge to Ehrlich?s re-election.
“We believed that Gov. Ehrlich was the better candidate last time,” said lawyer Arthur Frank, who filed the papers for the Democrats for Ehrlich organization.
But he said Ehrlich has backed corporate special interests, and “he lies about not imposing new taxes.”
“He failed to compromise with anyone in the legislature,” Frank said at an event in Arbutus, Ehrlich?s hometown. “We had gridlock for four years.”
“I?m ashamed, embarrassed and feel very foolish for what I did,” said Wayne Frazier, head of a minority contractors group and chairman of Democrats for Ehrlich.
“I felt we were played big time,” said Frazier, who said Ehrlich has not fulfilled promises to minority businesses. Frazier said he built a house in Baltimore City in 2000, and “I feel Martin O?Malley has made the city safer.”
The Ehrlich administration has issued several reports that contradict Frazier?s assertion that the number of minority contractors has not risen. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele headed a special commission to help reach that goal.
The Ehrlich campaign sees sour grapes on Frank?s part, since the governor failed to appoint him to a judgeship for which he had been nominated.
But Frank said he filed to run against the Baltimore County Circuit Court sitting judges whom Ehrlich appointed, so he doesn?t hold his rejection against Ehrlich. Frank lost in the September primary.
