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 that it would return $20,000 in campaign contributions he 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 Duncan campaign spokeswoman Jody Couser. None of the companies were listed in current 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 chief opponent 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.
“Any campaign is going to face questions about whether they are viable when they get caught taking a series of contributions from contributors that are tied to Jack Abramoff,” Sevugan said.
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. Both men are members of the county?s Orthodox Jewish community. Abramoff and Duncan have met, Couser said.
Pasternak had “no discussions” with Abramoff regarding the school transfer, Couser said. Having ties to Abramoff could be damaging for Duncan. Abramoff plead guilty in January to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials.
At a glance
» 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.
» Abramoff has contributed personally to only Republican lawmakers. In Maryland, he and his wife Pamela have given $16,000 to Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich since 2001. Abramoff?s parents, Franklin and Jane, of California, contributed another $8,000 to Erhlich in 2002, according to Maryland campaign finance records.
