Freshman Del. Michael J. Finifter, an Owings Mills Democrat, campaigned for office last year partly on his expertise as a certified public accountant, but his state license lapsed in 1984, records show.
In addition, he has been the subject of three District Court lawsuits over small debts filed between February and April, and his campaign chairman and treasurer have resigned.
The debts, which totaled about $6,000, all were paid within the past several weeks, according to court records and a lawyer representing Sinai Hospital. The money was owed to the hospital, to a legal reporting firm, and to the landlord of the Towson building where Mr. Finifter's law office was located. Mr. tTC Finifter would not answer questions about the matters. A brief, written statement from him notes that the debts are paid and concludes: "He looks forward to continuing his aggressive work on behalf of his constituents."
The delegate earned an accountant's degree and got a state license as a certified public accountant in 1980; he became an attorney in December 1982.
He is still a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, a private organization. Association Director Barbara Zorn said membership is based on CPA certification, even if a member's state license has expired.
There is no evidence that Mr. Finifter has done work he is not qualified or licensed to do.
Assistant Attorney General Sloane Fried Kinstler, who is counsel to the state Board of Public Accountancy, said that under board rules, "you can't falsely misrepresent yourself and your services."
A person might have been trained as an accountant but, "to say, 'Vote for me because I'm a CPA,' may be misleading," she said. The board has no regulatory power over people who are not licensed, she said.
Kent Swanson, chairman of Baltimore County's Republican State Central Committee, said Mr. Finifter's campaign claims were "misleading."
"The main thing is he thinks it's proper. I'm concerned about what kind of judgment he'll have in Annapolis," he said.
Robert D. Sellers, Mr. Finifter's former campaign manager and a lawyer with whom he shared office space until May 12, declined to comment.
One of the suits was for $3,948 for five months' back rent and parking at Mr. Finifter's former law office at 401 Washington Ave.
R. David Adelberg, a lawyer for the landlord, called the bill "a three-way problem. He was in a dispute with his office mates."
Mr. Finifter has moved his office to 200 E. Joppa Road.
Lauri Anne Filippi, Mr. Finifter's campaign treasurer and an attorney who worked for him in his Towson office until January, said only that she changed jobs for "professional reasons." She resigned as campaign treasurer in February.
Mr. Finifter owed $157.19 to Gore Reporting Co. of Annapolis, for a legal deposition, and $1,920.55 to Sinai Hospital for an eight-day stay last year by his son. That bill was paid recently, and a hospital spokesman called the suit the result of "a series of missed communications."
