One candidate for Harford County sheriff accused the incumbent of soliciting deputies for contributions and campaign work. But Sheriff R. Thomas Golding?s campaign manager said Tuesday that the allegations are “absurd.”
Republican candidate David E. Tritt Jr. said his sources in the department told him they have been approached by members of Golding?s command staff whoasked, “Can the sheriff count on your support?”
“Quite a few people in that agency have told me that they have been approached and asked ?Can the sheriff count on your support?? or ?Can we put a sign in your yard?? ” said Tritt on Tuesday. Tritt said his sources not only have been asked to support the sheriff, via signs, but many have received invitations to fundraisers to benefit Golding?s campaign.
Experts in criminal misconduct law and with the State Prosecutor?s Office, which investigates misconduct by elected officials, said these practices may be illegal.
“Assuming that it is happening … my initial impression based on those three examples, it is close to the line. I think it is an issue, and it needs to be investigated,” said Towson lawyer Byron Warnken, who is a professor of criminal misconduct at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Warnken spoke generally, regarding any of the 24 sheriff?s offices in Maryland, and not about this specific office.
Political officials “cannot use the power of office to coerce your political views,” Warnken said. Such action, he said, could be construed as a threat to the employee?s job, no matter how subtle.
Speaking generally, Jim Cabezas, chief investigator for the Maryland State Prosecutor?s Office, said the situation at the Harford County Sheriff?s Office could be investigated as a case of criminal misconduct. “I think it is questionable,” he said.
Through campaign manager Edward Hopkins, Golding said Tuesday, “These allegations are absurd. For decades, this has been the practice of the agency.” Hopkins said there has been a complaint from a deputy who felt it was inappropriate that he was approached to purchase tickets to a fundraiser by another deputy, but after lodging a complaint through the chain of command, Golding admonished the deputy who approached the complaining deputy. Hopkins said Golding has not issued an agency-wide order onthe practice.
No one at the Maryland State Ethics Commission would comment.
