By Len Lazarick, Len@MarylandReporter.com
(November 16, 2011) --The top campaign contributors to Gov. Martin O’Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot for last year’s election were “business interests and fat cats,” according to a detailed analysis by the Maryland Tax Education Foundation released Wednesday.
The foundation analyzed raw Excel data from the State Board of Elections and associated the funding sources by analyzing street addresses and relationships. The foundation combined donations by spouses, relatives and commonly owned companies, which are allowed to contribute to campaigns under Maryland law.
Using that combined data showed the top contributors to the O’Malley-Brown reelection bid were businessman William Rickman ($71,250), owner of the Oceans Downs race track and slots casino, and commercial real estate developer Edward St. John ($67,250). Almost 80% of the total $14.2 million to the campaign of the incumbent Democratic governor came in donations of $1,000 or more, and one third were $4,000 or more.
Under Maryland law, an individual can contribute up to $4,000 for the primary and $4,000 for the general election, but individuals with controlling interests in multiple corporations can easily exceed those limits.
Individuals contributing the maximum to O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown could give $16,000 during the election cycle. Scores of people gave that amount or more. Other major contributors to O’Malley Brown were real estate developer Stephen Stavrou ($42,000) and the Maryland Jockey Club ($40,820), the racetrack owner.
“When you give $70,000 to a governor candidate, are you expecting something in return?” asked Jeff Hooke, chairman of the foundation. “Are they just in love with Maryland’s system of government?”
Hooke, “I had to hire a couple of programmers” to massage the data. “It’s tough if you don’t have programmers.”
“All those donations should be cross checked” against waivers, zoning changes, contracts and favorable actions by the government, Hooke said.
Franchot’s campaign raised $1.9 million, with 65% in donations of $1,000 or more. The top contributors were West Group ($54,125), an out-of-state real estate firm, and film producer James Robinson ($37,000) with combined family contributions of $52,750. Edward St. John and his companies gave Franchot $30,100.
The full analysis of the
O’Malley contributions and the
Franchot contributions can be found on the
foundation Web site, along with Excel spreadsheets.