Democratic Del. Bobby Zirkin defended himself this week against critics who say he didn?t report at least $28,000 in rent for an office he used for his re-election effort in his campaign finance filings.
Zirkin said he thought the Owings Mills office would be an in-kind contribution from development firm David S. Brown Enterprises, which owns the building off Reisterstown Road. But when the state Board of Elections director asked his treasurer to explain why the rent wasn?t reported as an expense or donation in his finance reports, Zirkin said he decided to pay Brown $5,000.
He said he used the office to store T-shirts and never signed a lease nor negotiated a price with Brown.
“Usually you don?t have leases for storage space and we were sharing it with construction workers,” Zirkin said. “It was an oral agreement and I decided to change the terms of agreement. I decided to pay.”
Baltimore County Republicans cried foul last week when Zirkin?s pre-primary report filed earlier this month made no mention of rent. They said he used the office, priced now at $3,000 a month with “some work needed,” as a campaign headquarters for at least 10 months.
The state?s GOP has called for an investigation by the elections board and state prosecutor.
But Zirkin called the office “uninhabitable” and said $5,000 was more than enough to cover rent for 10 months. Zirkin showed an Examiner reporter the unit ? two suites down from his law office.
With no carpet, missing ceiling tiles and no heating and air conditioning, he argued the listing price would only be valid with heavy improvements and blamed the criticism on his Democratic primary opponent, Scott Rifkin.
Rifkin has been launching a tirade of attack mail in the 11th District, Zirkin said, including one ad that says Zirkin?s juvenile justice plan would house violent criminals and sex offenders in residential neighborhoods.
Rifkindefended the ad.
“He supports the Missouri plan, which proposes small [juvenile detention] faculties spread in neighborhoods,” Rifkin said.
