Campaign officials for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Duncan on Tuesday said the Montgomery County executive has no plans to drop out of the race amid speculation that his ties to ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff run deeper than campaign contributions.
Speculation grew after the Duncan campaign announced Thursday it would return $20,000 in contributions received in 1999 from businesses with ties to Abramoff.
Duncan received six checks worth $4,000 each from Bobbie’s Amusement Company Inc., Infinity Inc., Toys 4-U, Business Solutions Inc., Yang’s Corp. and Pacific Business Solutions Inc., but one bounced, said campaign spokeswoman Jody Couser. None of the companies were listed in Senate lobbying records as being former Abramoff clients. Abramoff did not personally contribute to the Duncan campaign.
Couser called the rumor that Duncan was dropping out of the governor’s race “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” She blamed it on the campaign of Duncan’s rival for the Democratic nomination, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley.
O’Malley Communications Director Hari Sevugan said the mayor’s campaign believes the rumor was started by a blogger.
The 1999 contributions were made around the same time the county approved the transfer of Col. Joseph A. Belt Middle School to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. Abramoff was a member of the school’s board in the late 1990s and early 2000s and is a friend of Duncan aide Jerry Pasternak, Couser said. Pasternak had “no discussions” with Abramoff regarding the school transfer, Couser said. She also indicated Abramoff and Duncan have met.
Big money
» Jack Abramoff and his lobbying clients contributed more than $5 million to more than 300 members of the 109th Congress since 1998, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
