Revealing his intentions?
County Executive Jim Smith held a fundraiser at Martin’s West on March 25 and left some in the audience wondering if his remarks telegraphed his intention to run for state comptroller.
More than 400 people attended the $150 per person event. About 180 of those in attendance ponied up $1,000 for a private VIP reception with Smith, according to Rachel Rice, Smith’s event coordinator.
Smith, who is serving his second term as county executive, cannot run for a third term. He had raised nearly $1 million before this event. A similar event held last March took in about $400,000. Rice said this one is likely to do as well or better.
Smith is widely believed to be considering challenging state Comptroller Peter Franchot, a fellow Democrat, in the 2010 election.
Some in attendance believe Smith’s comments did little to knock down that belief:
“I’m looking forward to working with our electeds and moving the state of Maryland forward. Moving the state forward on a firm fiscal basis” Smith told the crowd as he wrapped up his brief remarks. “That is our future. You can’t make progress if you’re not solid with solid fiscal management.”
Here’s a clip of Smith’s comments. You tell me, Did he or didn’t he?
Attendees dined on a variety of items including pasta, seafood, a carving table and fingers foods that included wings and perhaps the world’s tiniest cheeseburgers. So tiny, in fact, you might need two to qualify as a slider (those tiny burgers popular at local bars and now fast- food restaurants).
There’s a picture of them to the left. You won’t need a magnifying glass, just click the photo for a better view.
After seeing one of the mini-burgers Smith joked “Hey, times are tough.”
Frankly, it just raises Walter Mondale’s age-old political question: “Where’s the beef?”