Other members of the Baltimore County slate that doubled contributions to Baltimore County?s Democratic nominee for state?s attorney said they also benefitted from membership, though not to his extent.
Republicans and a political watchdog group accused Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith earlier this week of creating the 20-member Baltimore County Victory Slate to circumvent campaign finance laws and dump $315,000 from his own campaign account into that of state?s attorney candidate Scott Shellenberger. Smith is the sole contributor to the $400,000 slate fund and Shellenberger received almost 80 percent of the transfers.
Maryland laws cap account transfers at $6,000, but does not limit exchanges between candidates on a mutual slate.
Tuesday, other slate members said they did not expect financial benefits when Smith recruited them for the slate, but profited from funds used to provide refreshments to poll workers and print ballots for each district.
“As politicians, you always want more ? I?d be happy to take $50,000,” said Jack Sturgill, a slate member and candidate for the House of Delegates. “But the slate?s been a positive for us.”
Through the slate, Smith made minor contributions to other candidates ? $1,500 to State Senate candidate Delores Kelley and $4,000 to another slate that includes Dels. Michael Weir and John Olszewski Jr. ? and produced team mailings, said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Smith?s campaign.
Other members said they signed on to benefit from name associations, event support and ? if possible ? cash.
Clifford says contributions in the campaign homestretch remain a possibility.
“The purpose of opening the slate was to use resources at his disposal to help good candidates who will make strong partners with Baltimore County in the future,” Clifford said.
“Obviously not everyone needs the same kind of help.”
Republican state?s attorney candidate Steve Bailey asked the state?s election board and prosecutors to investigate the slate, citing concerns with the dates of Smith?s transactions.
He made two of his transfers before the state board received his slate registration paperwork.
Prosecutors cleared Smith of criminal wrongdoing, according to the board.
Bailey said he wants to work to close the “loophole” allowing slates to transfer unlimited funds as an elected official.
