Marks' Campaign Responds to 'Tammany Hall" Blog
Councilman David Marks said Sunday that he's keeping to his community roots despite questions being raised about the involvement of development attorneys in an upcoming fundraiser.
The Perry Hall Republican, in a Sunday email to campaign supporters, addressed the issues of campaign contributions, development money and his record during the first two years in office.
"Two years ago, I made the difficult decision to quit my job in the federal government to run for the Baltimore County Council," Marks writes in the email. "My family stood by me, despite the threat to our livelihood. We ran with strong community support and pinched pennies to buy the yard signs, bumper stickers, and handouts needed for a successful race."
"Many of my contributions in that first race, and over the past year, have been from friends and neighbors who made small donations because they believed in me," writes Marks.
The email was sent after an Insider Politics blog post raised questions about the involvement of David Gildea, a Towson land-use attorney, in hosting a campaign event with tickets costing up to $4,000 each.
The councilman did not address his decision to allow Gildea to help the Nov. 1 campaign event despite making statements three years ago. Those comments at the time implied the attorney's involvement in events for other candidates could lead to influencing the council on zoning decisions.
In a brief email reponse, Marks confirmed the email originated from his campaign but declined to respond to additional questions.
At issue was a question asked about a statement Marks made when he was preparing to run for County Council.
In a December 2009 story published by the Towson Times and the Baltimore Sun, Marks called fundraising efforts by some development attorneys a "Tammany Hall-style political machine" and lamented the effect such fundraising could have on development decisions by those recipients if they were elected.
Last week, following nearly a year of not raising money, Marks' campaign announced its first fundraiser. The event at the Bowman Restaurant in Carney is being hosted by a number of developers and related attorneys including David Gildea, one of the attorneys who raised money in 2009.
The events in 2009, as now, do not break any ethics of campaign finance laws. Gildea's involvement merely raised questions about an apparent conflict between Marks' words at the time and his actions now.
The blog post also spurred Meg O'Hare, a Carney community activist, to write on her own blog for Patch that Marks is not "in the pockets of developers."
The email sent Sunday by Marks does not directly address the councilman's decision to allow Gildea to help host the event.
The councilman did not respond to requests both last week and on Monday for an interview.
Here's Councilman Marks' email in full:
----- Original Message -----
From: David Marks
To: undisclosed-recipients
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2012 10:05 AM
Subject: Never Forgetting My Community Toots
Two years ago, I made the difficult decision to quit my job in the federal government to run for the Baltimore County Council. My family stood by me, despite the threat to our livelihood. We ran with strong community support and pinched pennies to buy the yard signs, bumper stickers, and handouts needed for a successful race.
Many of my contributions in that first race, and over the past year, have been from friends and neighbors who made small donations because they believed in me.
I have never forgotten my roots as a community leader. Anyone who has read the Patch, particularly the stories written by the regional editors, knows of my work over the past 20 months:
During the rezoning process, we limited growth on 417 acres, the most downzoning in the Fifth District in two decades. This downzoning will not only lighten the impact of future growth on schools and roads, but it will save taxpayers money by helping the county focus on improvements to existing infrastructure.
I worked with my colleagues of both political parties to pass legislation that created the first open space zoning in Baltimore County history. Then, we applied it to 173 acres, more than in any other County Council district.
We banned panhandle building lots in the environmentally-sensitive Carney and Cub Hill areas. During the rezoning process, our work eliminated homes from being built behind Summit Avenue and a 7-11 convenience store from being approved at Magledt Road near the snowball stand.
Some of my decisions have not been popular with developers and landowners, but they were best for our communities.
I am very proud of the good work we are doing for our communities, and of the many friends and neighbors who believe in me. I will never forget my local roots, which is why I work nearly six or seven days a week to make our neighborhoods better. Thank you for your support.
County Councilman David Marks
Steve
3:40 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
LOL " .......My Community Toots"
Bryan P. Sears
3:47 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
To be clear, that email was published without alteration. The spelling etc are all as they appeared in the email. Clearly he meant "roots."
David Taylor
4:22 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I think if you look at Councilman Mark's record, it speaks for itself. He's never been anything but an advocate for his community and has taken a strong stance to protect the county from over-development. His success at getting downzoning legislation passed and other actions speak loudly and clearly about who's corner he's in.
http://councilmandavidmarks.com/preserving.html
Bryan P. Sears
4:34 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
The question is how does the councilman reconcile his words in 2009 with his actions in 2012?
As a Republican council candidate, Marks said he thought letting David Gildea raise money for three Democratic council candidates created a corrupt process. The use of the phrase "Tammany Hall-style political machine" made that very clear.
Now he's letting that same attorney raise as much as $4,000 per person for him in November.
Constituents have a right to ask about what appears to be a fairly major switch in policy for the councilman, regardless of his record.
Parkvillehoney
4:45 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Hey, if David Marks wants David Gildea raise money for him, I have no problem. As long as there is no "payback" from David Marks. I have given money to many politicians because I believe in their platforms. We will have to see if David Marks is a man of his word and will not be beholden to the Jim Smith cronies.
RARE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT
8:23 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Translation: I've worked hard for the peeps. Now, time to get paid.
Just looked at his resume, looks like a mover and shaker to me - NOT.
James Edwards
3:45 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bryan - hopefully you will continue to stay vigilant on items like this. Maybe if more elected officials were questioned more we'd have less conflict of interest voting situations. The people that have attacked you for shedding light on this situation are clueless.
Buck Harmon
4:21 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The fact that Marks still has not addressed the rather large change of direction regarding his own "Tammany Hall style political machine" seems to speak volumes to his current character shift. On one hand he indicates the possibility of questionable ethics associated with the Smith clan, and now on the other hand he's playing along with them...seeking their help financially. Once you are bought by these deep rooted local pockets your in....like it or not. The Marker will be in, and in time as this particular question fades...~ the favor will be called. It's been happening as long as Baltimore County has been in existence. To think that Marks will be better than this is apathetic illusion. The process of Marks being owned by the Smith clan is alive and well...under way.
Ann Miller
12:32 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I think it's a fair question to ask, and something we should watch. But I do also see a difference between a fundraiser held for four newbie Democrats, raising (not sure the exact figure) about $60,000 each in one day, which purchased their election to the council for them, and a fundraiser held by an incumbent in which a special interest party hopes to gain favor with a sitting councilman. Hopefully Councilman Marks record of historic preservation and land conservation will hold. He has been the most active and effective advocate for the citizens on the council since his election.
Bruce Robinson
12:07 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
I waded through all of the comments to both blog items, holding my thoughts until the end. The last one I read, from Ann Miller, explained what was clear to me throughout.
The 2010 fundraisers were driven by Gildea & Smith to support the apparently hand-picked-by-CE Smith candidates for open seats on the council. That looks like a political boss picking who will run the government and ensuring that they all are beholden to him. Ergo, Tammany Hall.
David Marks was not part of that. Now, two years into his first term, his work has garnered continuing support from the people in the communities he serves as well as those who did not support his election. Mr. Marks has worked with all of the interested parties involved in issues coming before him. He is willing to listen to all reasonable arguments. Smith & Gildea have learned this and find him to be someone worthy of their support.
They could just as easily support a Democrat challenger. They didn't. Mr. Marks have often spoken about the general non-partisan nature of the work of the County Council. Occasionally, partisanship can raise its head, but on the council, that is rare.
Local government needs needs cooperation to meet the needs of the citizens and their communities. David Marks gets that. And we should all be able to get the difference behind Tammany Hall Politics and good governance.
Buck Harmon
3:03 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Marks has still failed to address the change of direction , leaving much to the imagination in both directions. Your post here seems to defend him but why has he not been straight forward himself?
Bruce Robinson
6:02 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
The statement two years ago was about apples, and the current issue is an orange. G&S were raising 2010 dollars for rookies. The current fundraising is for a sitting councilman. Different issues. Logical disconnect.
Buck Harmon
7:24 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sounds like a banana excuse to me ,unless you can speak specifically to the issue.
You may well be a friend...or friend of the family with an attempt to justify the difference..
mort slumber
10:55 am on Sunday, September 23, 2012
The proof of the pudding is in the pie.The prior councilman for the fifth district served for 20 years,and during his last two years did nothing substantial for his constitutents .
However, in his last year he took care of his buddies Kamentz and Moxley,who also served their last terms on the council,by voting to make sure they could double dip pension wise by serving in another County position.The real question is not who gives financially to a candidate or potential candidate, but, rather,what the individual does once in office that demonstrates his voting record.Marks' voting record and constitutency service speaks well of him.I would only expect him to continue in that same light during the next two years regardless of where the money comes from.