November 11, 2005|By DAVID NITKIN | DAVID NITKIN,SUN REPORTER
Jervis Finney, another Gilman and Princeton graduate, gave Ehrlich his first job as a lawyer. In his role as the governor's counsel, Finney has gone on the attack against the governor's critics and has attempted to alter the mission of a legislative committee investigating the governor's hiring practices.
Officials often resign from exclusive clubs when they take high-profile public jobs. J. Fredrick Motz, who like Jervis Finney is a former Republican U.S. Attorney for Maryland, resigned from Elkridge when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship. The club's membership policies "did compromise my conscience," Motz said at the time.
FOR THE RECORD - The final sentence in an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun on the membership of the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club should have quoted members as saying that the club has no black members.
Ehrlich's political rivals said Finney should give up his membership in Green Spring Valley or step down from the administration.
"No, it's not appropriate," said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. "The governor needs to state unequivocally that he is not going to tolerate discrimination in his state or his administration. They represent all Marylanders, not just ones that look like them."
Sasha Leonhardt, a spokesman for Mayor Martin O'Malley's campaign for governor, said: "It's inappropriate for Cabinet members to maintain memberships in exclusive clubs."
Henry Fawell, a spokesman for Ehrlich, called questions about Finney's membership "political nonsense."
"The governor doesn't have anything to say on it," Fawell said.
Several Green Spring members, including membership committee co-chairs Richard F. Blue Jr. and Cassandra N. Brooks, did not return telephone messages yesterday.
Membership committee member Josephine E.G. Worthington said she would not comment on club practices, but several other club members, who asked for anonymity, said the club has no white members.
david.nitkin@baltsun.com
Sun reporter Jennifer Skalka contributed to this article.
