Anne Arundel lawmakers say an aide to County Executive John R. Leopold?s attempt to access public records on their spending raises questions of impropriety, but they stopped short that it will impact their ability to work with the executive.
“Some are agitated by this controversy, but it?s not going to affect how we work with the executive,” said Del. Nic Kipke, R-District 31.
Brenda Reiber, an aide to the County Executive John R. Leopold?s assistant chief administrative officer, requested the reports from the Department of Legislative Services.
Concerns have been raised by some lawmakers that Reiber made the request to give Leopold a political advantage.
“Something like this is never good. This kind of sends a negative message,” said Sen. John Astle, D-District 30.
“But I have little concern about happened. I just want to know what [Leopold] is going to do about it.”
Reiber is entitled to access that information but shouldn?t have done so because she was a county employee, said Dennis Callahan, chief administrative officer.
Callahan said Reiber was not under the order of anyone in the administration.
“We can see how some conclusions can be drawn, but they were incorrect conclusions,” Callahan said.
Callahan said Reiber will keep her job and will receive a letter of reprimand.
Lawmakers say the controversy will not hinder the legislative process or Leopold?s attempt to get legislation passed.
“I?m there as a representative of thevoters, and I?m not going to let political motives affect the job I was elected to do,” said Del. Pam Beidle, D-District 32.
State lawmakers are given stipends for hotel lodging and gas mileage while in session. Expense reports are open to anyone, although lawmakers are informed when someone makes a request for information.
“Any legislator who doesn?t expect their expense reports to be public knowledge is naive,” said Del. James King, R-District 33, who added that local newspapers yearly publish their expense accounts.
The issue also raised another concern about accessing records, fearing that others may be deterred from seeking documents if they have any kind of political connections.
It puts those who push for public access to records in a bind as to whether to define Reiber?s actions as right or wrong.
“You got to hold elected officials accountable, but it has to be done in a fair and universally applied way,” said Ryan O?Donnell, director of Common Cause, a group advocating government transparency. “You shouldn?t have to jump through hoops.”
