Three years ago Councilman David Marks was highly critical of the fundraising efforts of development attorney David Gildea on behalf of several Baltimore County Council candidates.
Marks now seems more comfortable with what he once called "a Tammany Hall-style political machine." Enough so that Gildea is helping raise up to $4,000 per person for the Perry Hall Republican at a November event in Carney.
Not that Marks is willing to talk about it.
Gildea and Michael Paul Smith, son of former County Executive Jim Smith, were involved in raising tens of thousands of dollars for Democrats Cathy Bevins, Gordon Harden and Tom Quirk. The pair raised the money through house parties where attendees were charged $1,000 per person—at the time an unprecedented amount for a council race, much less for candidates who had never run for office before.
At the time, Marks and other community leaders said they worried that Gildea and Smith were attempting to elect councilmembers who might be friendly to their client's development proposals. Land use and zoning are primarily controlled by individual councilmembers.
In a 2009 story I wrote for the Baltimore Sun, Marks was highly critical of the involvement of the attorneys—specifically Gildea.
"The image of a Tammany Hall-style political machine, selecting candidates to run in open council districts is troubling," said Marks, who was president of the Perry Hall Improvement Association at the time.
Gildea is now part of a host committee that sent out invitations to a fundraiser for Marks that will be held in November at the .
The Towson development attorney in May was responsible for (Marks' words) that benefited clients of Gildea and his law firm. Marks was the lead sponsor of the bill.
I emailed Marks the 2009 statement and asked him to reconcile the 2009 statement with the upcoming fundraiser.
Here is his response in full:
"The people who selected me were the voters of the 5th District from all political persuasions," Marks replied. "I ran with community support and have proven to be an independent member of this County Council, limiting development on more than 400 acres of land and authoring numerous bills that make government more open to the public."
Marks declined Monday to answer questions about whether or not the event in any way conflicted with his statement made months before he announced his candidacy for the County Council.
A day later, Marks avoided the press and at one point left a council work session through a public entrance in order to access a backdoor into the council office suite, rather than use an exit that leads directly to the offices because it meant walking past a reporter.
Marks, through an aide, declined requests to be interviewed Tuesday.
The Supreme Court's done us no favors as a country with their ruling in Citizens Bank (and subsequent reaffirmation of it this year) but nothing's going to change this corrupt system because the people benefiting from it are conveniently the ones in power. You all remember "how it went" when David suggested to the Council that term limits be implemented earlier this year. If I recall correctly, it was tabled pretty quickly. Getting 4 of the remaining 6 of them to voluntarily limit their own power? Right, as soon as it snows here in July.
1. Fair game for Sears to compare before/after quotes on Marks. Marks can't duck a reporter now that he is in the show. He is accountable for past/present comments. Not that it is bad. It is part of maturation process. 2. Marks Was not courageous with rezoning. To down zone cemetaries and storm drain areas is the height of grandstanding. Bryan McIntire down zoned hundreds of acres against vehement opposition. That was courage.
Elections need to be much less about who's got the money, and more what have (or can) they do for the people.
Maybe he has evolved - go figure. Steve's comment is hilarious - but true!
Perhaps Bryan Sears will attend this event in search of answers. Does the press have to make a donation to be able to attend?
Tragically, when even the indisputable facts are denied by the blind, no dialog is possible.
Or is he above all that?
The tax would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars a year and could be used for any number of programs. Maybe even a program that the Pentagon follows that will assure that EVERY ONE of our military personnel's actually get a chance to vote and have their votes count.
Just like they tax everything you and I do! Its just another tax. And if I was speaking about as you call "this magical website" as if I am dreaming, how magic could it be if as you also say it already exists? Who's dreaming?
For now, it's a fundraiser. I don't believe it's an about face or a sign of things to come. Hopefully it provides a fair amount of money to support his next campaign, as I'd like to see him back in office after his next election.
Marks is the hen in the fox house with the need for this type of fund raiser...I would expect better from him.
Of all of the people to accept money from, l would never have guessed that Councilman Marks would accept campaign funds Smith, Gildea, Schmidt lawyers. Smith and Guidea (and the other partner Larry Scmidt) represent the old Baltimore County way. Larry Scmidt is the other partner whose is not named as part of the fundraiser probably because he is the current Board of Education President. Mr. Schmidt was the Baltimore County Liquor Board Chair for 13 years and then a Baltimore County Zoning Commissioner and is now controlling the Board of Education. This seems like it is too inbred of a relationship with Baltimore County government. Jim Smith is also in that law practice and I would never have thought that David Marks would be associated with him politically. I do not want to see David Marks transformed by Baltimore County's "good ole boys" into a politician who strives to keep things in Baltimore County the way they were. David Marks has done some fine things for the Community of Carney. I just cannot believe he will take money from this group right in my own neighborhood at Bowman's in Carney.