A Baltimore County Council member who has acknowledged lending himself campaign contributions for personal use could be investigated by the state prosecutor, elections officials said.
Councilman Kenneth Oliver, a Randallstown Democrat, wrote $4,000 in checks to himself and his wife from November through January, describing the withdrawals as loans for “family emergencies,” according to reports filed with the state Board of Elections. The apparent campaign-finance violation will be forwarded to the state prosecutor, said Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finance for the elections board.
“They can?t collect money just so they can just live large,” said Karen Simpson, deputy director of the division. “Expenditures have to support the candidacy.”
According to a January report Oliver filed with the board, the councilman dispersed $2,000 on Nov. 23 to his wife, Thelma Oliver, in what he described as a “loan for a family emergency.” Oliver reported repaying the loan Dec. 29.
The councilman wrote a $2,000 check to himself Jan. 17 for “funds for a family emergency.” In a Feb. 7 letter to board administrator Linda Lamone, Oliver said he repaid that loan Jan. 28
In the letter, which followed a Jan. 30 Towson Times article on the loans, Oliver said he was unaware he was possibly committing a campaign-finance violation, but did not elaborate on the family emergency. Oliver apologized and said he would “abide by any decision the board deems appropriate.”
“There was nothing hidden, no subterfuge. I thought I was doing what was required of me,” Oliver said.
The councilman declined to offer additional comment at a council meeting this week.
Candidates can lend their campaigns money, but not vice versa, Simpson said.
Examiner Staff Writer Luke Broadwater contributed to this report.
