Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith?s campaign vehemently defended itself against claims he kept contributions that exceeded state limits, providing The Examiner with a list of expenditures that indicate all but $400 has been returned to donors.
Copies of Smith?s two most recent finance reports posted on an online database indicate he has not issued any refund checks this election cycle, prompting political watchdog group Common Cause of Maryland to ask state prosecutors on Monday to investigate. While Smith campaign spokesman Sterling Clifford couldnot explain the absence of the checks on the database, he provided a list of expenses that reconciled all but four of 17 discrepancies identified by Common Cause Executive Director Bobbie Walton.
Two refund checks were mailed Monday night after a reporter inquired about it. Clifford credited one discrepancy to a data entry error and said he was “looking into” a refund that was $400 short.
“A phone call to us would have gotten [Walton] the same information,” Clifford said. “We work really hard to get this right.”
In a letter to prosecutor James Cabezas, Walton said even if Smith returned the money, the excessive contributions represent interest-free loans. In most cases, Smith?s campaign returned over-contributions about 10 months after receiving them, but the difference varies between two and 17 months.
She said she warned Smith staffers several months ago to correct the problem, or she would file a complaint. Tuesday, she said her concerns remain.
“They knew Common Cause was concerned about it because the person I talked to said, ?Let me get on that one,? ” Walton said.
She said the staffer blamed the mistake on the campaign treasurer, who was being replaced.
The online database, a project of the National Center for the Study of Elections, a research center at the University of Maryland, is new this year and works in cooperation with the state?s Board of Elections. A notice on the database?s home page indicates the site is still under construction.
Calls to Jared DeMarinis, director of the board?s candidacy and campaign finance division, were not returned.
DONORS WHO RECEIVED REFUNDS
Berman McAleer Inc.
Obrect Realty Services Inc.
Erwin L. Greenberg Commercial
Hunt Valley Holdings LLC
United Food & Commercial
Workers Int?l
Washington Place Management Agency
Gaylord Brooks Realty Co.
Franklin and Reisterstown LLC
The Traffic Group LLC
James Haden
American Paving Fabrics Inc.
Henry H. Lewis
Thomas Repsher
Century Engineering Inc.
Source: Common Cause of Maryland
