Howard County Sheriff Chuck Cave?s campaign manager has sent a letter to the state Board of Elections accusing challenger Jim Fitzgerald of campaign impropriety.
But Fitzgerald said the Oct. 31 letter is “baseless” and “a desperate attempt to boost their campaign.”
In a letter to Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finance at the Maryland State Board of Elections, Cave?s campaign manager Miriam Mathews asked state officials to review Fitzgerald?s campaign contributions.
Mathews wrote that Fitzgerald should not remain president of the police union while that union gives money to candidates, describing the situation as a “certainly a conflict of interest.”
“This guy is just outside the boundaries and sheriffs shouldn?t be that way,” Mathews said.
Fitzgerald defeated incumbent Cave in the Democratic primary. Cave switched parties to become a Republican and is now running as a write-in candidate.
Fitzgerald said he has nothing to do with the police union PAC?s donations to candidates, which include providing food and drinks for several Democratic candidates? fundraisers.
Cave said a police union?s $1,000 donation given to State?s Attorney Timothy McCrone is particularly suspect, because McCrone later gave two $500 donations to Fitzgerald.
“I don?t like that back and forth,” Cave said.
McCrone said the police union gave him money, before Fitzgerald declared he was running for sheriff.
The latest allegation comes after a primary eve conflict in which Fitzgerald?s wife charged Cave?s top deputy with stealing Fitzgerald?s campaign signs.
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 Election Coverage
