Finance Reports

The number was untraceable - almost. On Election Night in 2010, The Baltimore Sun's switchboard lit up with reports of a suspicious "robocall": it told voters to relax, that President Obama and Gov.Martin O'Malley had been successful, and that there was nothing left to do but wait for the results. Those who called us said they believed the call was a trick to keep Democratic voters home, and one person provided the number from their caller ID. Naturally, The Sun wanted to know who was behind the call; Democrats including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake immediately had tried to pin it on former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s campaign, but his camp vehemently denied it and the Republican party was calling for an investigation.

The number was untraceable - almost. On Election Night in 2010, The Baltimore Sun's switchboard lit up with reports of a suspicious "robocall": it told voters to relax, that President Obama and Gov.Martin O'Malley had been successful, and that there was nothing left to do but wait for the results. Those who called us said they believed the call was a trick to keep Democratic voters home, and one person provided the number from their caller ID. Naturally, The Sun wanted to know who was behind the call; Democrats including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake immediately had tried to pin it on former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s campaign, but his camp vehemently denied it and the Republican party was calling for an investigation.

Some campaign finance reports due in January were submitted late because filers had problems using the state's new online reporting system, according to the state Board of Elections. The online system was rolled out late last year, said Ross Goldstein, deputy state administrator of the board. Some people did not understand how to use it. “It's pretty different as far as the steps to file your report,” Goldstein said. “It was just a learning curve.” State administrator of elections Linda Lamone will recommend waivers of late fees associated with the technical difficulties, if a waiver is requested by filers, he said.

Democratic congressional candidate John Delaney outraised state Sen. Rob Garagiola by more than three-to-one and then loaned himself an additional $1.3 million this year, giving the Potomac banker a significant financial advantage in the competitive 6th Congressional District. With less than two weeks to go before the April 3 primary, Delaney reported raising $767,709 from contributors before the personal loan, campaign finance reports filed with Federal Election Commission at midnight Thursday showed.

State prosecutors have filed criminal charges against 77 political candidates - including former Baltimore mayoral candidate Andrey Bundley - accusing them of violating election laws regarding campaign finance reports, according to the state prosecutor's office. Bundley; Scott Rolle, who ran for attorney general; city liquor board commissioner Elizabeth C. Smith; and Del. Jill P. Carter are among those facing charges, which could carry up to a year in jail and a $25,000 fine. Prosecutors said the alleged violators received criminal summonses, not warrants, charging them with failure to file campaign finance reports on time.

The state prosecutor's office is investigating overdue campaign finance reports from two Baltimore County councilmen, both of whom say they are working to correct the problem. Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver, a Randallstown Democrat, said his campaign manager recently received a letter from the prosecutor alerting him to a missing campaign finance report and outstanding fines from late 2002 and early last year. Councilman John A. Olszewski Sr., a Dundalk Democrat, said he received a letter from the prosecutor about a missing report and outstanding fine from late 2002.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening's re-election campaign is saying no to requests for an electronic copy of his campaign finance report due this week. Ellen R. Sauerbrey, his likely Republican challenger, is saying yes.Robin O. Oegerle, the governor's campaign treasurer, cited technological obstacles and the fact that candidates are not legally required to provide copies of the reports on computer discs.She said that when the State Administrative Board of Elections adopts a standard format for electronic delivery of the annual finance reports, "We'll be one of the first to convert."

Name recognition isn't the only thing incumbents have over their potential challengers in this year's Annapolis city elections.The incumbents also have raised and spent more money. Lots of it, compared with most of their little-known opponents, who filed campaign finance reports yesterday that showed empty coffers.For example, Samuel Gilmer, a Democratic alderman from Ward 3, raised $5,282.66, spent $2,000 for a May 27 fund-raiser and slightly more than $2,000 more in postage, printing and other expenses, according to his report filed with the city Board of Elections.

It was just 24 hours after he'd learned that his only serious opponent in the Sept. 15 Democratic primary had dropped out of the race, but Gov. Parris N. Glendening was taking no chances.Sitting at a desk in his College Park campaign headquarters yesterday, Glendening methodically telephoned potential contributors to his campaign against Republican Ellen R. Sauerbrey in November. In some cases, to seal the deal on the spot, couriers were dispatched to pick up the checks.Similar scenes have played out in both camps in recent weeks, as candidates and staffs pressed to meet an important midnight deadline last night for state campaign finance reports.

Baltimore County Executive Roger B. Hayden's political TC treasury has grown considerably since his shoestring 1990 election campaign, but his total is only second among those of his potential rivals for the job in 1994.Pikesville's County Councilman Melvin G. Mintz, D-2nd, is sitting on a $204,567 campaign fund, according to finance reports filed Monday, as compared with Mr. Hayden's total of $197,399.Council Chairman Charles A. Dutch Ruppersberger III, the only Democrat who is already campaigning to unseat Mr. Hayden next year, reported $133,694 on hand.

Democratic businessman John Delaney will report raising at least $739,000 in the past two and a half months, a sizable haul for the political newcomer whose campaign for Maryland's 6th Congressional District appears to be gaining momentum. Though Delaney contributed to his own campaign in the final quarter of last year, an aide said that the new figure represents only money raised from donors. The Potomac financer has been running television and radio ads for weeks and recently won endorsements from former President Bill Clinton, The Washington Post and state Comptroller Peter Franchot.

Some campaign finance reports due in January were submitted late because filers had problems using the state's new online reporting system, according to the state Board of Elections. The online system was rolled out late last year, said Ross Goldstein, deputy state administrator of the board. Some people did not understand how to use it. “It's pretty different as far as the steps to file your report,” Goldstein said. “It was just a learning curve.” State administrator of elections Linda Lamone will recommend waivers of late fees associated with the technical difficulties, if a waiver is requested by filers, he said.

A Democratic challenger hoping to unseat GOP Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett in the 6th Congressional District race outraised the incumbent 3-to-1 in the final months of last year and has pulled almost even in cash in the bank, campaign finance reports filed Tuesday show. Democratic State Sen. Rob Garagiola, who was among the first Democrats to enter the race for the competitive House seat, raised $344,061 in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the reports. Bartlett, who is seeking an 11th term, raised $104,140 over the same period.

Democratic House candidate John Delaney, who had been exploring a run for Maryland's 6th District since mid-November but who officially entered the race this month, will report spending $118,000 of his own money on the race so far, his campaign said Monday. The announcement comes a day before the deadline for federal candidates to file campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission covering the final three months of 2011. Democrat State Sen. Rob Garagiola is expected to report raising $330,000 in contributions and the district's incumbent, Republican Rep.Roscoe G. Bartlett, has indicated he will report raising roughly $100,000.

Republican state Del. Steven R. Schuh has taken a strong lead among prospective candidates for Anne Arundel county executive in 2014 in early fundraising, according to recently released campaign finance documents. Schuh, who announced Thursday that he has formed an exploratory committee, has about $283,000 in his campaign account, according to a report filed Wednesday, the deadline for filing campaign finance reports for 2011. "I'm certainly pleased with the money we've been able to raise," Schuh said.

Del. Steven R. Schuh said Thursday he has formed an exploratory committee to examine a run for Anne Arundel County Executive in 2014. Schuh, a Pasadena Republican, said the committee was formed in the fall and had its first meeting in October. The disclosure comes as Schuh, who has long been rumored to be considering a run, is leading the pack in fundraising prowess among possible candidates to replace County Executive John R. Leopold, who is term-limited. Schuh has $283,000 in on-hand campaign cash, with $250,000 raised in 2011, according to recently released campaign finance reports.

The state prosecutor has filed charges against 13 people who failed to file campaign finance reports, violations that could lead to fines or jail time for political candidates and their aides. State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh said yesterday that all the accused candidates and campaign treasurers were given repeated chances to comply with state law but have refused to do so. "If they ignore us and fail to come into compliance, then we file charges," he said. The alleged violations stem from reports that were due early this year, and Rohrbaugh said he expects he will file more charges against those who failed to submit reports due before and after the primary and general elections.

The two leading candidates for Maryland governor have together spent nearly $10 million on television advertising and other media — with many of the expenditures logged in the past month and a half, according to campaign finance reports made public Saturday. Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley has spent more than twice as much on media as his Republican challenger, former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Recent polls, including one published today by The Baltimore Sun, show O'Malley with a lead that political observers have attributed partly to his dominance on TV. Ehrlich paid more than $2.6 million for media in the past month and a half, his campaign finance report shows.

Attorney GeneralDouglas F. Gansler, the first of the expected Democratic contenders for the 2014 gubernatorial nomination to report his fund-raising totals for last year, now has more than $4 million in the bank after taking in more than $1 million in 2011. Several hours before the filing deadline, Gansler reported that he has almost  $4.1 million on hand. He listed total receipts between Jan. 13, 2011, and Jan. 11, 2012,of $1.2 million. Gansler, who did not have to spend heavily on his re-election bid in 2010, came into the year with $2.9 million.

State Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has taken a strong lead among prospective Democratic candidates for governor in 2014 in terms of money in the bank, but his lead narrows when his fundraising last year is compared with that of three possible rivals. In a report filed Tuesday, the deadline for filing state campaign finance reports for activity during 2011, Gansler reports having almost $4.1 million on hand. That puts him far ahead of three others who are widely expected to run in the Democratic primary to succeed Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is prevented by term limits from running again.