Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Email Campaign Nets Ethics Complaint

According to this story by Derek Simmonsen in the Columbia Flier, an ethics complaint has been filed against Liz Bobo for using her state office and email account to influence Columbia elections. The complaint stems from last years village elections in Wilde Lake. During that election Liz used her state delegate email account to politic on behalf of Phil Kirsch who was running for reelection to the Columbia Council against Linda Odum. Phil’s win in that election was largely credited to the assistance he received from Liz.

Liz used the same tactics in the 2007 village elections when fellow blogger Bill Santos attempted to unseat Kirsch.

Predictably, Liz claims she didn’t know she was doing anything wrong.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who does she think she is? This is pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Liz' ongoing public advocacy is far from pathetic. Is advising her constituents on best choice for leadership of CA, a private organization *not a public office*, really politicking?

Sounds more like continued responsible public service to me.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:59,

Would you say the same thing if Liz was actively campaigning for her preferences for the board of directors at Black and Decker? Constellation Energy? Those are also *not a public office*.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:59,

That is ridiculous. People that are upset by this are the Chamber of Monarchy types.

Anonymous said...

Liz Bobo owns a lot of property in Wilde Lake (although she lives elsewhere where she is not subject to the CA lien), so she has a right to vote (many times actually), but do other delegates who live in Columbia get involved in village elections?

Jack said...

Bones! Excellent post, you write like the bloodhound of journalism!

Anonymous said...

I do not dispute that Bobo messed up and should be reprimanded, but why is this complaint being filed now? She first sent one of these e-mails nearly two years ago. The timing of all this has me scratching my head.

Anonymous said...

Jack(@r$e),

That caliber of kissing up just keeps you in relentless oblivion (one step down from relevancy).

Cheers:)

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:03,

Interesting. Bobo endorses candidates in a private election of two non-profit corporations. She then co-sponsors a bill (HB1053) that would give standing to non-profits and the ability to sue. Hmmmmmmm.....

wordbones said...

Anon 1:16 PM,

A point of clarification. The Columbia Association is not a non profit. They just act like it sometimes.

-wb

Anonymous said...

CA is a 501.C-4, non-profit corporation.

wordbones said...

Anon 2:38 PM,

You are correct. My bad. I sit corrected.

-wb

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:16, you'll have to spell it out more clearly for me. Is she gearing up CA or the Village Board to sue the county or something? How is this complaint a response to that threat?

Anonymous said...

Regardless, Liz is becoming increasingly irrelevant as her constituent base evaporates and her influence wains. If she doesn't retire gracefully in the near future, we will just have to vote her out of office like we did when Chuck Ecker took her seat as county executive a few years ago.
HH

Anonymous said...

HH that statement belongs on your wish list, not as if statement of fact (maybe you need to visit your therapist for that darned psychotic disconnect from reality.)

Jack said...

Anon 12:59 - How about you kiss my @rse?

Everyone else, I'm interviewing Bobo this Saturday. If you would like to ask her about the recent ethics issue, please compose a question and post it on my blog as a comment. I will present the questions to Bobo during our recorded interview and post the answers!

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

OMG. LIZ, what are you thinking?! He's never going to be objective, it'a ploy. Run!

Anonymous said...

This is all about downtown development. This year Liz took it to a new level recruiting candidates who have no public record to run for open CA Council Rep seats. Then she says in the paper she is not going to endorse anyone this year?? I rather see her sponsor a bill in Annapolis that actually does something for Howard County. That's what she was elected to do.

Anonymous said...

anon 9:24,

tru dat

Anonymous said...

If you don't want new blood in leadership positions then you must be happy with the way things are.

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that Malone didn't complain when Bobo did the same thing for him when he first ran for CA Board. Why is he so upset about it now?

Anonymous said...

Ok, let's get a copy of that email, this is too darn good!

Anonymous said...

Because Judd Malone has an agenda!!! And, he's a SCHMUCK!

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that the discussion, as led by Delegate Bobo (see Columbiablogproject), has turned to attacking the person who brings the complaint.

A classic tactic employed by polished politicians; attack the questioner, but don't answer the question.

Howard County deserves better.

Anonymous said...

anon 10:06,

Ok, when is the last time you voted for a non-incumbent (when an incumbent was running)?

Anonymous said...

anon 1:08,

ur right, we are all sheep. long live the incumbent for the sake of incumbancy!