January 25, 2006|By LARRY CARSON | LARRY CARSON,SUN REPORTER
The two front-runners in this year's race for Howard County executive got about a third of their contributions from builders and other development-related interests, campaign finance reports show, at a time when congestion caused by growth and development is shaping up as a major campaign issue.
West Columbia Democrat Ken Ulman received about 31 percent of his $161,700 in contributions over the past year from the industry, compared with about 34 percent of the $173,658 raised by fellow County Councilman Christopher J. Merdon, an Ellicott City Republican, a Sun review of the reports showed.
Harry M. Dunbar, another Democratic candidate, has most strongly rejected development for slow growth, but he has not raised enough money to require a report. He accused developers of "trying to buy the election" and vowed not to accept any development money.
Merdon's campaign literature includes a pledge to "create solutions to overcrowded schools, congested roads and disappearing open space," as well as predictability for business and accountability for residents. In addition, Merdon was the only County Council member last year who voted against the "Comp Lite" bill to rezone dozens of properties for development, arguing that the changes would allow too many new homes and increase congestion.
As a Zoning Board member, he also voted for lower density at Maple Lawn, Maryland, a huge mixed-use project under construction in Fulton.
Merdon had no comment on the results of the survey, but last week he invited people to examine his record on land-use issues.
"I voted against a number of very large development projects," he said when the reports were released. "I feel like I have a good cross-section of contributors, both large and small."
Ulman, whose official campaign launch is scheduled for Feb. 4, also has emphasized a comprehensive, slower, more-inclusive approach in planning for downtown Columbia's redevelopment, while he opposed plans for a big chain pharmacy near Hickory Ridge Village Center in his district.
"You've got to look at the record," Ulman said, adding that he has supported good projects and "voted against projects that I didn't think were in the best interests of the county. I'm proud of my record. I've got a lot of friends and a lot of supporters."
Joan Lancos, a Republican former Planning Board director whom Ulman criticized in 2002 for having too much development money, said she found it "interesting" that Ulman is getting money from developers.
But she said that money from builders does not carry an obligation.
She said she was clear with her donors that they are "not buying anything. They don't really expect anything special -- any special treatment."
Others are skeptical.
"I used to say, if someone gives you a lot of money, how do you turn them down?" said Angela Beltram, a former County Councilwoman who last year led an anti-development petition drive to place the rezonings in the Comp Lite bill on the ballot in November. Her group plans to write a series of questions for candidates on land-use issues, she said.
"It can't help but influence them," Beltram said of the donations. "If a citizen friend gives you $100, don't you feel some obligation to represent their interest? That's the way it works," she said.
Common Cause Maryland's new executive director, Bobbie Walton, said public financing of campaigns is her group's solution.
"Realistically speaking, the most important function of local government is land-use decisions," she said, noting that developers often have more money, and it may appear, more influence, than the average citizen.
Builders deny they are seeking any unfair advantage.
"I expect to get good government" for contributions, said builder Harry J. "Chip" Lundy Jr. who organized $6,500 in family and corporate gifts to Merdon. For him, that means building the new classrooms and widening the roads needed to solve congestion problems. "Business leaders should participate more in the process," Lundy said.
A Republican, Lundy said party is not the critical factor with him. He supported former County Executive Charles I. Ecker, a Republican, in 1990, but also backs current County Executive James N. Robey, a Democrat. He also defended his industry's contributions.
"The anti-growth -- or the public -- is just as much of an interest group as the homebuilders. I'm interested in continuing my industry," Lundy said.
James R. "Rob" Moxley 3rd, a principal in Security Development, a Howard company, said his firm made a $1,000 contribution to Ulman under the name of Dorsey Crossing LLC, a 95-unit townhouse project the company is planning behind Dorsey Search Village Center. Moxley said he is not looking for special favors, just an open mind.
"I think all the candidates are above any kind of quid pro quo. Ken is a bright guy. He has a lot of good ideas," Moxley said, though he added that different partners in the firm often make contributions to different candidates.
As co-chairman of a citizens committee that studied and then recommended zoning changes along U.S. 40 that were included in the Comp Lite bill, he disagreed with Merdon's vote against the omnibus measure.
"I thought the task force worked together very well. We felt like we had very good compromise proposals. As a whole, it should have been supported by all the council," Moxley said.
larry.carson@baltsun.com
