Strange Bedfellows

Del. Jon Cardin, a proponent of campaign finance reform, said he will continue to accept corporate donations leading up to the 2010 election even as he presses for approval of a bill that creates a publicly financed campaign option that would prohibit such contributions.

Cardin was one of two legislators who participated in the telephone news conference Wednesday morning touting the release of a poll that he said shows public support for campaign finance reform. Both Cardin and Sen. Jamie Raskin were asked during that news conference if they would promise not to accept campaign contributions from corporations beginning now. (You can read the full poll results here.) (more…)

As I noted on this blog this morning, State Del. Jon Cardin deny a request for the release of information on the number of voluntary furlough days he took in January.

Cardin, a Democrat who represents the 11th District, which includes Owings Mills, Pikesville and part of Timonium, was one of 25 state legislators from Baltimore County who gave up some of his $43,500 state salary in a first round of voluntary furloughs in January — his name was on a list of legislators who participated — but he declined to provide information on how many days’ salary he gave up.

Legislators took days off as part of a request made to all senators and delegates by legislative leaders. Patuxent Publishing Co. is asking the county’s 29 senators and delegates to voluntarily release documentation showing the number of days each volunteered to have withheld from their pay earlier this year.

Since that blog entry, Cardin called to say he has now signed a waiver allowing the legislature to release similar information related to verifying a second round of days without pay. Last month, House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller asked legislators to take another eight to 10 days without pay.

When asked if he would now provide documentation on the number of days he took without pay in January, Cardin said: “No, I don’t think so.”

Del. Jon Cardin was one of 25 state legislators from Baltimore County who gave up some of his $43,500 state salary in a first round of voluntary furloughs in January.

Beyond the appearance of his name on a list of legislators who participated, Cardin is not talking and declined to provide information on how many days’ salary he gave up.

“There are certain matters that can remain private,” said Cardin, a Democrat who represents the 11th District, which includes Owings Mills, Pikesville and part of Timonium. (more…)

Del. Curt Anderson, a Democrat and chairman of Baltimore City’s House Delegation, said he’s not satisfied with Del. Jon Cardin’s explanation regarding the use of city police resources for a marriage proposal last month.

Anderson, speaking Friday on Sen. Clarence Mitchell IV’s C4 show on WBAL radio, said Cardin has not yet taken full responsibility for his actions.

“Cardin never came forward and said, ‘I did this and that’s how it happened,’ ” Anderson said. “That’s the way you take responsibility — not apologize after the fact and write a $300 check.” (more…)

Del. Jon Cardin’s now well-known marriage proposal involving a Baltimore City Police marine unit and helicopter is now a teachable moment.

Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, senior rabbi at Beth Tfiloh in Pikesville used Cardin’s story in a sermon last week about forgiveness and redemption. The sermon also included anecdotes about Sen. Ted Kennedy, former Atlanta Falcons (now Philadelphia Eagles) quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted in 2007 of his role in a dog fighting conspiracy and Abdel Beset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, the Libyan terrorist convicted of the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbee, Scotland. (more…)

A fledgling group that advocates smaller government is weighing in on events surrounding the engagement of Del Jon Cardin.

David Schwartz, state director for Americans for Prosperity — Maryland,  criticized Cardin in a statement released this morning calling the marriage proposal prank “another example of a “culture of entitlement” coming from local elected officials here in Maryland.” (more…)

Del. Jon Cardin got the answer he was looking for when he proposed to Megan Homer on Aug. 7.

But questions remain about the couple’s engagement cruise that involved an unknown number of Baltimore City Police officers, a police boat and a police helicopter. City police have launched an internal investigation into the matter.

So far, the owner of the boat remains unknown other than Cardin’s explanation that it was a friend. Who is that person and what were the connections, if any, that made the police involvement possible? (more…)

Del. Jon Cardin didn’t announce his intentions to run for county executive during the Maryland Association of Counties conference last weekend — but another announcement involving the Baltimore County Democrat did make news.

Alan Brody at The Gazette reports that Cardin “was the toast” of the MACo conference for the way he became engaged to his girlfriend Megan Homer. You can read Brody’s account here — which includes a city police helicopter and police officers boarding a boat the couple was cruising on.

A fundraising event for Jon Cardin has sparked talk that the two-term delegate might be considering a run county executive.

Cardin, the nephew of Sen. Ben Cardin, said he is not “an unofficial or unannounced candidate” but acknowledged that an event scheduled for next month has caused tongues to wag.

“I’ve asked people if they think it’s a legitimate thing,” Cardin said. “I’ve had lots of people tell me they think that it’s possible. I certainly have teased this idea a little bit.” (more…)