Glendening to reimburse state expenses of backing Gore

A spokesman for Gov. Parris N. Glendening acknowledged yesterday that his office made a mistake using official state stationery to announce endorsements by the governor and lieutenant governor for Vice President Al Gore.

"If we were doing it quickly again, we'd put it on different stationery," said Michael Morrill, the governor's spokesman.

The governor's office released a one-page news release on office stationery Wednesday that included quotes from Glendening and Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend praising Gore, who appeared in Baltimore that morning.

Under Maryland law, state property may not be used for nonofficial purposes.

Kathleen S. Skullney, executive director of Common Cause/Maryland, which pushes for strict enforcement of state ethics laws, said the use of official stationery for such a political statement created "a significant appearance of impropriety."

Morrill said the Glendening campaign committee would reimburse the state for costs associated with the news release and the governor's appearance with Gore.

He said the reimbursement would be $140.90, which would cover the expense of faxing the governor's endorsement statement to news outlets and having pictures taken of Glendening, Townsend and Gore by a state photographer.

Morrill said the governor had planned such a reimbursement before any questions were raised.