As more controversy over spending in the mayoral campaign of City Councilman Keiffer Mitchell Jr. erupted Tuesday, a key adviser to his father said the imbroglio could have been avoided if the campaign had not gone to the media.
“We were shocked; Dr. [Keiffer] Mitchell [Sr.] was shocked. You have questions about the money, and we said we?ll talk, then they hold a press conference the next day,” said veteran campaigner Larry Gibson, who represents Dr. Mitchell. “They went to the press without giving Dr. Mitchell a chance to respond.”
Gibson said Dr. Mitchell had allowed the campaign to occupy his office in West Baltimore, expecting he would be reimbursed.
Money spent on improvements to the premises and utility bills was meant to compensate Dr. Mitchell for rent.
“His approach is: ?I?m going to give you the office, to the extent there are specific costs that they have to pay. The amount that they now owe on a monthly basis, it turns out it was more,?” he said.
Meanwhile, Richard Vatz, a professor of political science at Towson University, said the controversy was a significant blow fro the campaign.
“This is a rhetorical death knell for the Mitchell campaign,” he said. “I just can?t imagine how this could have happened.”
