Silence may be golden but not for Comptroller Peter Franchot in the anti-slots crusade that has ticked off Democratic leaders in Maryland.
Franchot is upset that he was the only statewide elected official or member of Congress at the Maryland Democratic Party’s fundraising gala Monday night who didn’t get to address more than 500 people at Baltimore’s new Hilton Hotel. He said it was because the party leadership “has become indebted to the national gambling industry.”
“Not only were gambling interests major sponsors of this event,” Franchot wrote in a letter to Party Chairman Michael Cryor Tuesday, “but the leadership of our state party made a conscious decision to silence those who are not beholden to these special interests.”
“I can’t tell you how absolutely untrue that that is,” Cryor told the Examiner. “A lot of people didn’t speak. I’ve not had a word or significant conversation with a pro-slots person” about the program.
State Treasurer Nancy Kopp attended the dinner, but didn’t speak. She is elected by the members of the General Assembly.
Franchot has frequently annoyed the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Martin O’Malley, by opposing his plans for taxes increases and slot machine gambling, as well as other issues. But O’Malley said Monday night he had nothing do with the program for the gala.
“The governor had nothing to do with the program,” said Cryor, who was handpicked by O’Malley to hold the unpaid position. “He had nothing to do with who spoke.”
Franchot and the other officials were featured in a special video shown to the crowd.
The party dinner raised about $400,000 for the Maryland Party, according to communications director David Paulson. There were also only two companies associated with gaming who were among several dozen sponsors that contributed much of the money. They were Ocean Downs, a $10,000 gold sponsor, and Harbor Casino, a $2,500 sponsors.
There were several major unions which were significant contributors to the event and which are also supporting slots, including locals of SEIU (Service Employee International Union) and AFSCME (American Federation of Government Employees.)
The national office of AFSCME was the largest supporter of the pro-slots group in the latest round of fundraising, giving $500,000 to For Maryland For Our Future. But AFSCME and SEIU also supported Franchot’s election in 2006.
