Democrats are requesting radio and television stations not run new public service announcements promoting a tax-free shopping week because the commercials feature first lady Kendel Ehrlich and her son, Drew.
Democratic Party Chair Terry Lierman said the ads produced by the Maryland Retailers Association are “political payback” for Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s support of “special interests,” including Wal-Mart.
The political heat got so high that it even led Comptroller William Donald Schaefer to cancel his appearance at a news conference unveiling the promotional spots at Macy?s in White Marsh. “The comptroller stepped back from this situation because he wanted to depoliticize it,” said Schaefer campaign spokesman Laslo Boyd.
The ads had been in the works for months, and “the comptroller?s office played the central role,” said Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association. The trade group chose Kendel Ehrlich because “she is a perfect spokesman,” Saquella said, as the working mother of young children. “It?s unfortunate that politics intruded in.”
The week of Aug. 23, customers can buy clothing items under $100 in value without paying sales tax. The legislation was enacted last year, and, Lierman said, “the promotion of the back-to-school amnesty is worthwhile” for both consumers and businesses. Lierman said the currents ads “using a candidate?s highly visible family members might be viewed as in-kind political campaign contributions” by the stations, which are requested to run them for free.
Kendel Ehrlich said it is a “real shame” the Democrats are undermining promotion of a program that saves consumers money, and this will have “much more ramifications” for Democrats than for her and her husband.
Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell said, “They?re not hurting the governor or the first lady, they?re hurting the small businesses. They?ve put partisan politics ahead of the well-being of the mom-and-pop stores across Maryland.”
Schaefer was not permitted to appear in the ads since the legislature banned statewide officials from appearing in promotional ads for state programs prior to the election.
Lierman demanded that Ehrlich repay the $4.7 million he claims the state paid for advertising in which the governor appears promoting tourism and other state programs.
