Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) just doesn’t seem to have much luck with ‘Chevy Chases’ these days.
The Democratic nominee in the June special election for U.S. Senate had to return a $500 contribution from the actor Chevy Chase because the former “Saturday Night Live” actor forgot to sign the check.
Not only did the National Lampoon’s “Vacation” and “Caddyshack” star forget to sign the check, he also failed to return a follow-up letter verifying that he had indeed made out the check to Markey’s campaign. He just assumed that Markey thought the donation was a joke.
“Don’t ask me …I have no idea. It’s a surprise to me that anybody returned any money to me,” Chase told The Boston Herald. “Maybe [Markey] thought it was a joke. That does happen to me a lot.”
Markey has also faced questions over another Chevy Chase – the suburban D.C. town – over the past few months. While the 19-term Congressman owns his father’s old house in Malden, Mass. and claims it as his primary residence for political purposes, Markey and his family essentially live full-time at their Chevy Chase residence.
In fact, a web video by Markey’s 2010 Congressional opponent features interviews with three of Markey’s “supposed” neighbors – all of whom are commented that they never see their Congressman around town.
Markey’s penchant on staying in Chevy Chase instead of Malden probably has some bearing on the discrepancy in donations to his campaign between residents of both towns. Chevy Chase residents have donated $61,260 to Markey’s Senate bid, while residents of Malden have only given him $9,821. To put the towns in perspective, Malden has about 60,000 residents – while Chevy Chase has a paltry 2,800.
Markey will face Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL, in the June 25 special election to finish the term of former Senator John Kerry. Kerry resigned in January after being confirmed as Secretary of State by his former colleagues.
The seat is now occupied by Mo Cowan, the former chief of staff to Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick. Cowan was appointed on the condition that he did not run for the seat in June. Whomever wins in June will also have to run again in 2014 when Kerry’s term expires.
