George Johnson, Democratic candidate for Anne Arundel county executive, has resurrected the specter of electric deregulation in a new ad attacking Republican rival Del. John Leopold?s voting record, characterizing him as a pawn of utility companies.
The ad, which began running on cable television throughout Anne Arundel County on Tuesday, touts Johnson?s record of efficient management of the sheriff?s department that resulted in the return of $1 million annually to county coffers.
“While George Johnson was returning $1 million a year for 12 years to taxpayers as Anne Arundel County sheriff, where was John Leopold?” the narrator asks in the ad?s opening seconds. “Leopold was doing BGE?s bidding.”
The ad criticizes Leopold?s support of legislation that would have increased BGE rates by 72 percent.
“This election is going to determine the future direction of our county and it is too important to take a gamble on a career politician who clearly doesn?t have the best interests of our community at heart,” Johnson campaign spokesman Mike Rendina said in a statement.
The ad comes after last week?s televised debate in which Leopold attacked Johnson?s record, citing an incident when a sheriff?s department employee was caught embezzling funds, and Johnson?s use of county dollars to purchase holiday cards and pocket knives for constituents.
“The independent, nonpartisan county auditor has severely criticized George Johnson for the mismanagement of his office,” Leopold said. “And while there are 12,000 unserved warrants and the deputy sheriffs are leaving because they?re underpaid, his priority was to raise his salary from $42,000 to more than $99,000. ? I voted against that.”
Leopold defended his record of voting for utility deregulation, saying he joined both other members of his party and Democrats in voting for it because “we were promised competition.” Leopold also pointed to a bill he successfully sponsored that required utility companies to pay for noise-abatement programs in his district in Anne Arundel County.
